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Simon did not lose his patience. He had dealt with this kind of thing too often before. He tried a new tack. "How much tithe goes to your priest?" |
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Simon's voice grew harsher. "You must know the number of stones weight given to the priest. Where are your tally sticks?" |
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"But I do not know. Why should I?" The expression was surprised, Simon noted, not sullen. "It is written in mistress' book and she comes with the priest. Mistress would not let him cheat us." The old man smiled and nodded vigorously. "Mistress will know the number of ships also. Ask the mistress. She will speak true. The old master and the mistress never cheat us." |
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Light dawned on Sir Andre. He ground his teeth together to suppress the laughter that rose in his throat. Alinor had doubtless sent word that her people were to hold their tongues. Then the impulse to laugh died. If she intended to cheat the King, she would get into trouble. Sir Simon was no fool. |
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That was true enough, but Sir Simon's experience had been with ill-run estates and corrupt administrations. He was accustomed to cringing and lying and evasion. Thus, the only unnatural thing he noted was the fearlessness of the old man and his trust that his mistress would not cheat him. Perhaps, he thought, Sir Andre's notionor, rather, Lord Rannulf'swas not so farfetched as it seemed. Unfortunately it could only be tested in time of stress and then, if the fearless and free-thinking fisherfolk were not faithful, it would be too late to begin anew and build a proper terror that induced respect for authority. |
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However, if the fisherfolk were "different" in their manner, Simon found when they turned inland that he obtained no more information from the herdsmen or farm bailiffs. The herdsmen also "could not tell numbers," the tally sticks were "away yon," and the |
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