'Owest thou then thy king NOTHING, boy?' he resumed.
'I owe the truth everything,' answered Richard.
'The truth!' echoed the marquis.
'Now speaks my lord Worcester like my lord Pilate,' said Richard.
'Hold thy peace, boy,' returned the marquis sternly. 'Thy godly
parents have ill taught thee thy manners. How knowest thou what was
in my thought when I did but repeat after thee the sacred word thou
didst misuse?'
'My lord, I was wrong, and I beg your lordship's pardon. But an'
your lordship were standing here with your head half beaten in, and
your clothes--'
Here Richard bethought himself, and was silent.
'Tell me then how gat'st thou in, lunatic,' said the marquis, not
unkindly, 'and thou shalt straight to bed.'
'My lord,' returned Richard, 'you have taken my mare, and taken my
liberty, but the devil is in it if you take my secret.'
'I would thy mare had been poisoned ere she drew thee hither on such
a fool's errand! I want neither thee nor thy mare, and yet I may not
let you go!'
'A moment more, and it had been an exploit, and no fool's errand, my
lord.
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