With your consent, I will attend to it that he does no
more mischief."
A momentary cordiality came into the King's manner; as though recognizing it
for the first time, he turned to the figure across the fire with a courteous
gesture. "My lord of Ivarsdale! I am much beholden to you. Had any chance
wrought evil to the Lord of Baddeby while under my safeguard, my honor would
have been as deeply wounded as my feelings."
As he bowed in acknowledgment, some embarrassment was visible in Sebert's
manner; but he was spared a reply, for after a moment's rubbing of his chin,
the King continued,--
"As regards the boy, however, there is something besides his knife to be taken
into consideration. I think we run more risk from his tongue."
The words of the Earl's thane fairly grazed the heels of the King's words:
"The imp can do no otherwise than harm, my sovereign. Should he bring his
tongue to Danish ears, he could cause the utmost evil. For the safety of the
Earl of Mercia,--ay, for your own need,--I entreat you to deliver the boy up
to my keeping."
"I am no less able than the Lord of Baddeby to restrain him," the Etheling
said with some warmth. "If it be your pleasure, King Edmund, I will keep him
under my hand until the end of the war, and answer for his silence with my
life."
Then Norman's eagerness got the better of his discretion.
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