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many partings 1287
provided with all that they needed; and they went on their
way at their leisure, setting up their tents when they would.
On the sixth day since their parting from the King they
journeyed through a wood climbing down from the hills at
the feet of the Misty Mountains that now marched on their
right hand. As they came out again into the open country at
sundown they overtook an old man leaning on a staff, and
he was clothed in rags of grey or dirty white, and at his heels
went another beggar, slouching and whining.
‘Well Saruman!’ said Gandalf. ‘Where are you going?’
‘What is that to you?’ he answered. ‘Will you still order my
goings, and are you not content with my ruin?’
‘You know the answers,’ said Gandalf: ‘no and no. But in
any case the time of my labours now draws to an end. The
King has taken on the burden. If you had waited at Orthanc,
you would have seen him, and he would have shown you
wisdom and mercy.’
‘Then all the more reason to have left sooner,’ said
Saruman; ‘for I desire neither of him. Indeed if you wish for
an answer to your first question, I am seeking a way out of
his realm.’
‘Then once more you are going the wrong way,’ said
Gandalf, ‘and I see no hope in your journey. But will you
scorn our help? For we offer it to you.’
‘To me?’ said Saruman. ‘Nay, pray do not smile at me! I
prefer your frowns. And as for the Lady here, I do not trust
her: she always hated me, and schemed for your part. I do
not doubt that she has brought you this way to have the
pleasure of gloating over my poverty. Had I been warned of
your pursuit, I would have denied you the pleasure.’
‘Saruman,’ said Galadriel, ‘we have other errands and other
cares that seem to us more urgent than hunting for you. Say
rather that you are overtaken by good fortune; for now you
have a last chance.’
‘If it be truly the last, I am glad,’ said Saruman; ‘for I shall
be spared the trouble of refusing it again. All my hopes are
ruined, but I would not share yours. If you have any.’