H. C. Bailey

“ The King laughed. "She tarries, good Roger, she tarries. Women are wayward. What if she comes not? Look and see. What if she hath mocked our Roger?"
"God's blood, you shall not mock me," Roger cried and drew his sword and rushed at him. The King flung up his bound arms to meet the blow. He turned it, not without blood, but as it fell it seared through the cords and the straining arms sprang apart. ”

“ Roger laughed loud.
"Who, I? Good Roger, where are your wits? I am sped. So are we all. Never a King was done to death but a thousand died for his killing. The wolf hath the sheep and the hounds are upon the wolf." ”

“ The King turned smiling and sat himself down and began to tear the sleeves of his shirt to bind his arms.
"In the fiend's name, where is my lord Roger?"
"Well spoken, friend," the King laughed. "Look and see." So Baldwin ran to the window, "See where he is gone. And see who comes." And Baldwin rumbled to himself in Flemish.
"Is this your work, my master?" he turned, threatening, his hand on his sword.
The King sprang up. "God's body, fellow, that well you know. It is his work who lies there. The fool who must needs be villain too. But these be my men who come upon you." ”