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Rh "I don't think there is a man to be found in Ireland who would be a better head to her than you will be. And the priest himself said, the day we heard the first rumour of this, that it was a good match, a very good match, and that there was no doubt but that there would be luck upon it, with the help of God, and we all well."

"Very good," said Cormac. "I will leave you there for a while, and I'll go east to the priest's house to see when it would be convenient for him to come and marry us."

By that time the King's men had dismounted on the fair-green. Beside the horses which they had for their own riding, they had another large herd of driven horses, in charge of grooms. These were the horses that were to be given back to the people from whom they had been bought on that fair-day, and to whom the false money had been paid for them in the King's name. The town's-people were gathered on the fence all round the field, staring with all their eyes at the King's men, and at their silken cloaks and their caps, and at the big long swords they had, and the small swords, and at the fine long smooth lances held erect, and at the ribbons that hung out at the tops of them, fluttering in the wind. But the King's men did not pretend that any of these things was a wonder to them.