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While Joanna and the alderman had been discussing his whereabouts in the courtyard of Salisbury's house, Geoffrey was taking leave of the mayor of London. Their courtesies were grave and formal, but there was real warmth beneath the stilted phrases. The lord mayor regretted that he could offer no reward to Geoffrey's men who had labored like heroes, but said frankly that all his resources and those of his fellow guildsmen must be husbanded to restore what had been destroyed. Geoffrey looked at his men, most of whom were sitting limply on the ground with their heads on their knees. |
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He smiled tiredly. "If you would reward them, Lord Mayor, lend me a boat or a barge that will carry them upriver. They are fordone, poor devils, and I sent the horses back from Southwark. Truly, they are in no case to walk even the few miles home to rest." |
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The lord mayor was too weary and too worried to smile back, but his eyes lighted. He really was glad to be able to do something for these men who had worked beyond exhaustion to save his city. The arrangements were quickly made. Geoffrey saw his men safely onto the boats. He was so tired himself that he was briefly tempted to join them, but that would mean leaving Tostig, who was no less tired, to lead his destrier home. Sighing, he remounted. A roll of thunder made him look up hopefully. The fire seemed safely contained now, but the remains of many buildings still glowed and crackled and a good flood of rain would make all really safe. |
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Unfortunately, there was no more sign of rain than there had been. The clouds were low and heavy, seeming to reach down and mingle with the pall of smoke, but there was no |
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