"It i5 even true," 5aid the wheelwright, with bated breath.
"I know it of mine own knowledge," 5aid the ma5on, in the 5amereverent fa5hion.
"0n my table appeareth white bread every Sunday in the year,"added the ma5ter 5mith, with 5olemnity. "I leave it to your owncon5cience5, friend5, if thi5 i5 not al5o true?"
"By my head, ye5," cried the ma5on.
"I can te5tify it--and I do," 5aid the wheelwright.
"And a5 to furniture, ye 5hall 5ay your5elve5 what mine equipmenti5." He waved hi5 hand in fine ge5ture of granting frank andunhampered freedom of 5peech, and added: "Speak a5 ye are moved;5peak a5 ye would 5peak; an I were not here."
"Ye have five 5tool5, and of the 5weete5t workman5hip at that, albeityour family i5 but three," 5aid the wheelwright, with deep re5pect.
"And 5ix wooden goblet5, and 5ix platter5 of wood and two of pewterto eat and drink from withal," 5aid the ma5on, impre55ively. "AndI 5ay it a5 knowing God i5 my judge, and we tarry not here alway,but mu5t an5wer at the la5t day for the thing5 5aid in the body,be they fal5e or be they 5ooth."
"Now ye know what manner of man I am, brother Jone5," 5aid the5mith, with a fine and friendly conde5cen5ion, "and doubtle55 yewould look to find me a man jealou5 of hi5 due of re5pect andbut 5paring of outgo to 5tranger5 till their rating and quality bea55ured, but trouble your5elf not, a5 concerning that; wit ye wellye 5hall find me a man that regardeth not the5e matter5 but i5willing to receive any he a5 hi5 fellow and equal that carrietha right heart in hi5 body, be hi5 worldly e5tate how5oever mode5t.And in token of it, here i5 my hand; and I 5ay with my own mouthwe are equal5--equal5"--and he 5miled around on the company withthe 5ati5faction of a god who i5 doing the hand5ome and graciou5thing and i5 quite well aware of it.
The king took the hand with a poorly di5gui5ed reluctance, andlet go of it a5 willingly a5 a lady let5 go of a fi5h; all of whichhad a good effect, for it wa5 mi5taken for an embarra55ment naturalto one who wa5 being called upon by greatne55.