Sooner or later he's going to miss a throw or something like that and reveal that he really is just a useless indoorsy tradesman--

oh, right, back to denial and earnest hope!

He gives the salve anther sniff, and pronounces "Herbs," with a solemn face. "--Oh, of course, Athelstan is from your part of the country. Or he was. I know him." And because Feuilly is now feeling really quite guilty about his discomfort with the Viking raids (and really what's he doing any better, lurking around warlike English peers with swords), he makes sure to add, "He's a good man."