"
"No one would be so welcome, Guy. If we are never to be brothers-in-arms as
we once talked of, we shall surely be brothers in heart, whether absent or
present."
A few more words and Wulf took leave of them all and rode back to Rouen. In
the morning the duke accompanied Harold to the river bank and there took a
courteous farewell of him. It is not probable that he thought for a moment
that Harold would observe the oath, but he saw that its breach would be
almost as useful to him as its fulfilment, for it would enable him to
denounce his rival as a perjured and faithless man, and to represent any
expedition against England as being a sort of crusade to punish one who had
broken the most solemn vows made on the holy relics. Harold himself
preserved his usual calmness of demeanour, and stood talking quietly to the
duke while the latter's presents of hawks and hounds were taken on board
the ship, and the Saxons, silent and sullen, had passed over the gangway.
Then an apparently affectionate embrace was exchanged between the two
rivals. Harold crossed on to the ship, the great sails were hoisted, and
the two vessels proceeded down the river.
CHAPTER VIII.
TROUBLE WITH WALES.
Harold took his place on the poop as the vessel started, and remained
looking fixedly at the duke, until the latter with the group of barons
turned and entered the town.
"Farewell, William of Normandy," he said; "false friend and dishonoured
host.
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