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Page 59
this time. Only for the good of my people, there are things that he must hear from my mouth. If he hears a small thing here and another small thing there, when he puts those things together, he might learnmore than is good for us or more than is true, and thus he might wish to take from us more than is needful for the King's share.''
The huntsman's face was broad and flat, his nose a snub, his hair as light as tow. To the hawk-nosed, thin-faced Normans, the physiognomy often spelled stupidity, but bright intelligence gleamed in his blue eyes now. He nodded quick comprehension.
"The headsmen, and herdsmen, and bailiffs are to tell the King's warden nothing then. My men will bear the message swiftly."
"Huntsman," Alinor warned, "they must not refuse to answer. That might bring punishment upon them. No insolence or discourtesy must be offered Sir Simon. I would not have the King's warden made angry. Onlyonly let them be as stupid as possible. Do you understand?"
"I understand, lady."
She hoped he did understand and that his men would reach their goals before Sir Simon stopped asking questionsif he ever asked any. There was, of course, no way to stop Sir Andre's mouth, but he understood the purpose of a King's warden and would naturally be as reticent as possible. Besides, although Sir Andre was sometimes present when headsmen and bailiffs made their accountings, more often he was not. He knew far less than Alinor of what the lands brought in. Having done what she could to ensure the success of her campaign, Alinor went up to the women's quarters to work off her impatience by harrying her maids.
Fortunately for Alinor's plans, Simon had been more interested in seeing the bounds of the demesne to judge it in military terms than in asking questions

 
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