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Page 237
sharpened his perception, which was naturally acute, even further. It leapt into his mind that there was neither blame nor recrimination in Sybelle's statement; moreover, there was no implication of sweet, sorrowful forgiveness. She spoke as of something in the dead past, not forgotten, but of no significance for the future.
There were two sides to such an attitude. It was a relief to know that the peccadilloes of the past, if uncovered, would produce no rages or lamentations or pious mouthings. The calm assumption that it would not, could not, happen again was something else entirely. There was not a shadow of threat in Sybelle's remarkand that was more threatening in a sense than an overt warning not to transgress. One did not threaten to prevent something one knew to be impossible.
It was at this moment, before Walter could decide whether he should laugh at Sybelle's naive overconfidence or be terrified by ithe had just remembered Lord Geoffrey saying If I am in bondage to my wife . . . I have no desire to cast off that bondage that Sir Roland came back, leading with him an armed knight of startlingly handsome appearance.
"Sir Heribert," Sir Roland said.
Surprised out of the thoughts that had prevented him from noticing the approach of the pair, Walter got to his feet, only to be more surprised when Sir Heribert dropped to one knee and offered up his sword, saying, "My fealty, my lord."
There was something in the action that reminded Walter of the mummeries of jongleurs, a kind of overdone height of manner. His instinct was to refuse the gesture, but he knew he could not. Besides, he told himself, as he touched Sir Heribert's weapon and uttered the formal words of acceptance, his mood was scarcely agreeable at this moment. Perhaps at another time the offering might have seemed more natural. Certainly Sir Heribert had come as swiftly as possible in answer to his summons. The formula complete, Walter bade his man rise.
By coincidence, Sir Roland and Sir Heribert were of opposite physical typesSir Roland short and broad, Sir Heribert tall and slender. But they seemed opposites in everything else also. Sir Roland had harsh features, no wise improved by a nose that had been broken and ill set and a scar that puckered one cheek. His eyes were dark and serious, and his smile rarebut when it came it illuminated his whole face. From

 
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