"
"What prevented you?"
Elfric turned pale as if with great mental emotion, and tried to proceed
in vain.
"You are not well," said Elgiva, anxiously.
"Not quite," he said; and then, overcoming his feelings by a vigorous
effort, while no one save Redwald suspected the true cause, he continued:
"There had been a great storm, and they had broken down the only bridge
which existed for miles over a swollen river: we lost hours."
"And yet, as your messengers told us, you arrived in time to see him
leave the coast."
"The vessel which bore him was still distinctly in sight when we stood
on the sands."
"But had you no means of following?"
"None: it was a lonely fishing village with a small harbour, and his
bark was a mere fishing smack, the only one of the place."
"I trust the sea has swallowed him," said the king; "but there is a
rumour today that he is playing the saint in Flanders with great pomp.
Well, only let him show his face in England again, and the devil may
pinch my nose with his tongs if I leave him a head on his shoulders: he
shall be a sacrifice to your outraged dignity, my Elgiva."
"And yours, my Edwy."
Husband and wife were quite agreed on this subject: they had never
forgiven Dunstan in the least degree, and, identifying him with
religion, had well-nigh abjured it altogether.
The ordinary dishes being now removed, the guests all partook lavishly
of wine, and, their heads already heated, yielded entirely to the
excitement of the moment.
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