'My lord,' they said, who had seen him, 'a fine man, tall as a tree, and strong and straight, having keen blue eyes, and a reddish beard on his chin, as the men of Flanders do not use.' Gunther said, 'Let me see this merchant,' and went down to the inn where King Richard was. Now Richard was sitting by the fire, warming himself. When Gunther came in, furred and portly, he did not rise up; which was unfortunate in a pretended merchant. 'Are you Master Hugh of Alost?' Gunther asked, looking him over. 'That is the name I bear,' said Richard. 'And who are you, my friend?' The Austrian stammered. 'Hey, thou dear God, I am Lord Gunther of this castle and town!' he said, raising his voice. Then the King got up to make a reverence, and in so doing betrayed his stature. 'I should have guessed it, sir, by your gentleness in coming to visit me here. I ask your pardon.' Thus the King, while Gunther wondered. 'You are a very tall merchant, Hugh,' says he. 'Do they make your sort in Alost?' King Richard laughed. 'It is the only advantage I have of your lordship. For the rest, my countrywomen make straight men, I think.' 'Were you bred in Alost, Master Hugh?' asked Gunther suspiciously; and again Richard laughed as he said, 'Ah, you must ask my mother, Lord Gunther.' 'Lightning!' was the Austrian's thought; 'here is a pretty easy merchant.' He raised some little difficulties, vexations of routine, which King Richard persistently laughed at, while doing his best to fulfil them. Gunther did not relish this. He named the Archduke as his overlord, hard upon strangers. Richard let it slip that he did not greatly esteem the Archduke. However, in the end he got his safe-conduct, and all would have been well if, on leaving Gazara, he had not overpaid the bill.