the merry adventures of robin hood-第40章

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　was　done　according　to　Robin's　bidding；　and　the　candles　were　laid　to　one　side；　along　with　honest　Quentin's　unopened　bales　of　silk。　　So　the　list　was　gone　through　with；　and　the　goods　adjudged　according　to　what　Robin　thought　most　fit。　Some　things　were　laid　aside　untouched；　and　many　were　opened　and　divided　into　three　equal　parts；　for　charity；　for　themselves；　and　for　the　owners。　And　now　all　the　ground　in　the　torchlight　was　covered　over　with　silks　and　velvets　and　cloths　of　gold　and　cases　of　rich　wines；　and　so　they　came　to　the　last　line　upon　the　tablet〃　A　box　belonging　to　the　Lord　Bishop　of　Hereford。〃

At　these　words　the　Bishop　shook　as　with　a　chill；　and　the　box　was　set　upon　the　ground。

〃My　Lord　Bishop；　hast　thou　the　key　of　this　box？〃　asked　Robin。

The　Bishop　shook　his　head。

〃Go；　Will　Scarlet；〃　said　Robin；　〃thou　art　the　strongest　man　here　bring　a　sword　straightway；　and　cut　this　box　open；　if　thou　canst。〃　Then　up　rose　Will　Scarlet　and　left　them；　coming　back　in　a　short　time；　bearing　a　great　two…handed　sword。　　Thrice　he　smote　that　strong；　ironbound　box；　and　at　the　third　blow　it　burst　open　and　a　great　heap　of　gold　came　rolling　forth；　gleaming　red　in　the　light　of　the　torches。　At　this　sight　a　murmur　went　all　around　among　the　band；　like　the　sound　of　the　wind　in　distant　trees；　but　no　man　came　forward　nor　touched　the　money。

Quoth　Robin；　〃Thou；　Will　Scarlet；　thou；　Allan　a　Dale；　and　thou；　Little　John；　count　it　over。〃

A　long　time　it　took　to　count　all　the　money；　and　when　it　had　been　duly　scored　up；　Will　Scarlet　called　out　that　there　were　fifteen　hundred　golden　pounds　in　all。　　But　in　among　the　gold　they　found　a　paper；　and　this　Will　Scarlet　read　in　a　loud　voice；　and　all　heard　that　this　money　was　the　rental　and　fines　and　forfeits　from　certain　estates　belonging　to　the　Bishopric　of　Hereford。

〃My　Lord　Bishop；〃　said　Robin　Hood；　〃I　will　not　strip　thee；　as　Little　John　said；　like　a　winter　hedge；　for　thou　shalt　take　back　one　third　of　thy　money。　　One　third　of　it　thou　canst　well　spare　to　us　for　thy　entertainment　and　that　of　thy　train；　for　thou　art　very　rich；　one　third　of　it　thou　canst　better　spare　for　charity；　for；　Bishop；　I　hear　that　thou　art　a　hard　master　to　those　beneath　thee　and　a　close　hoarder　of　gains　that　thou　couldst　better　and　with　more　credit　to　thyself　give　to　charity　than　spend　upon　thy　own　likings。〃

At　this　the　Bishop　looked　up；　but　he　could　say　never　a　word；　yet　he　was　thankful　to　keep　some　of　his　wealth。

Then　Robin　turned　to　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　and　quoth　he；　〃Now；　Sir　Richard；　the　church　seemed　like　to　despoil　thee；　therefore　some　of　the　overplus　of　church　gains　may　well　be　used　in　aiding　thee。　　Thou　shalt　take　that　five　hundred　pounds　laid　aside　for　people　more　in　need　than　the　Bishop　is；　and　shalt　pay　thy　debts　to　Emmet　therewith。〃

Sir　Richard　looked　at　Robin　until　something　arose　in　his　eyes　that　made　all　the　lights　and　the　faces　blur　together。　At　last　he　said；　〃I　thank　thee；　friend；　from　my　heart；　for　what　thou　doest　for　me；　yet；　think　not　ill　if　I　cannot　take　thy　gift　freely。　But　this　I　will　do：　　I　will　take　the　money　and　pay　my　debts；　and　in　a　year　and　a　day　hence　will　return　it　safe　either　to　thee　or　to　the　Lord　Bishop　of　Hereford。　　For　this　I　pledge　my　most　solemn　knightly　word。　　I　feel　free　to　borrow；　for　I　know　no　man　that　should　be　more　bound　to　aid　me　than　one　so　high　in　that　church　that　hath　driven　such　a　hard　bargain。〃　　〃Truly；　Sir　Knight；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　do　not　understand　those　fine　scruples　that　weigh　with　those　of　thy　kind；　but；　nevertheless；　it　shall　all　be　as　thou　dost　wish。　　But　thou　hadst　best　bring　the　money　to　me　at　the　end　of　the　year；　for　mayhap　I　may　make　better　use　of　it　than　the　Bishop。〃　　Thereupon；　turning　to　those　near　him；　he　gave　his　orders；　and　five　hundred　pounds　were　counted　out　and　tied　up　in　a　leathern　bag　for　Sir　Richard。　　The　rest　of　the　treasure　was　divided；　and　part　taken　to　the　treasurehouse　of　the　band；　and　part　put　by　with　the　other　things　for　the　Bishop。

Then　Sir　Richard　arose。　　〃I　cannot　stay　later；　good　friends；〃　said　he；　〃for　my　lady　will　wax　anxious　if　I　come　not　home；　so　I　crave　leave　to　depart。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　and　all　his　merry　men　arose；　and　Robin　said；　〃We　cannot　let　thee　go　hence　unattended；　Sir　Richard。〃

Then　up　spake　Little　John；　〃Good　master；　let　me　choose　a　score　of　stout　fellows　from　the　band；　and　let　us　arm　ourselves　in　a　seemly　manner　and　so　serve　as　retainers　to　Sir　Richard　till　he　can　get　others　in　our　stead。〃

〃Thou　hast　spoken　well；　Little　John；　and　it　shall　be　done；〃　said　Robin。

Then　up　spake　Will　Scarlet；　〃Let　us　give　him　a　golden　chain　to　hang　about　his　neck；　such　as　befits　one　of　his　blood；　and　also　golden　spurs　to　wear　at　his　heels。〃

Then　Robin　Hood　said；　〃Thou　hast　spoken　well；　Will　Scarlet；　and　it　shall　be　done。〃

Then　up　spake　Will　Stutely；　〃Let　us　give　him　yon　bale　of　rich　velvet　and　yon　roll　of　cloth　of　gold　to　take　home　to　his　noble　lady　wife　as　a　present　from　Robin　Hood　and　his　merry　men　all。〃

At　this　all　clapped　their　hands　for　joy；　and　Robin　said：　〃Thou　hast　well　spoken；　Will　Stutely；　and　it　shall　be　done。〃

Then　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　looked　all　around　and　strove　to　speak；　but　could　scarcely　do　so　for　the　feelings　that　choked　him；　at　last　he　said　in　a　husky；　trembling　voice；　〃Ye　shall　all　see；　good　friends；　that　Sir　Richard　o'　the　Lea　will　ever　remember　your　kindness　this　day。　And　if　ye　be　at　any　time　in　dire　need　or　trouble；　come　to　me　and　my　lady；　and　the　walls　of　Castle　Lea　shall　be　battered　down　ere　harm　shall　befall　you。　　I〃　He　could　say　nothing　further；　but　turned　hastily　away。

But　now　Little　John　and　nineteen　stout　fellows　whom　he　had　chosen　for　his　band；　came　forth　all　ready　for　the　journey。　Each　man　wore　upon　his　breast　a　coat　of　linked　mail；　and　on　his　head　a　cap　of　steel；　and　at　his　side　a　good　stout　sword。　A　gallant　show　they　made　as　they　stood　all　in　a　row。　Then　Robin　came　and　threw　a　chain　of　gold　about　Sir　Richard's　neck；　and　Will　Scarlet　knelt　and　buckled　the　golden　spurs　upon　his　heel；　and　now　Little　John　led　forward　Sir　Richard's　horse；　and　the　Knight　mounted。　　He　looked　down　at　Robin　for　a　little　time；　then　of　a　sudden　stooped　and　kissed　his　cheek。　All　the　forest　glades　rang　with　the　shout　that　went　up　as　the　Knight　and　the　yeomen　marched　off　through　the　woodland　with　glare　of　torches　and　gleam　of　steel；　and　so　were　gone。

Then　up　spake　the　Bishop　of　Hereford　in　a　mournful　voice；　〃I；　too；　must　be　jogging；　good　fellow；　for　the　night　waxes　late。〃

But　Robin　laid　his　hand　upon　the　Bishop's　arm　and　stayed　him。　〃Be　not　so　hasty；　Lord　Bishop；〃　said　he。　　〃Three　days　hence　Sir　Richard　must　pay　his　debts　to　Emmet；　until　that　time　thou　must　be　content　to　abide　with　me　lest　thou　breed　trouble　for　the　Knight。　　I　promise　thee　that　thou　shalt　have　great　sport；　for　I　know　that　thou　art　fond　of　hunting　the　dun　deer。　　Lay　by　thy　mantle　of　melancholy；　and　strive　to　lead　a　joyous　yeoman　life　for　three　stout　days。　I　promise　thee　thou　shalt　be　sorry　to　go　when　the　time　has　come。〃

So　the　Bishop　and　his　train　abided　with　Robin　for　three　days；　and　much　sport　his　lordship　had　in　that　time；　so　that；　as　Robin　had　said；　when　the　time　had　come　for　him　to　go　he　was　sorry　to　leave　the　greenwood。　At　the　end　of　three　days　Robin　set　him　free；　and　sent　him　forth　from　the　forest　with　a　guard　of　yeomen　to　keep　freebooters　from　taking　what　was　left　of　the　packs　and　bundles。

But；　as　the　Bishop　rode　away；　he　vowed　within　himself　that　he　would　sometime　make　Robin　rue　the　day　that　he　stopped　him　in　Sherwood。

But　now　we　shall　follow　Sir　Richard；　so　listen；　and　you　shall　hear　what　befell　him；　and　how　he　paid　his　debts　at　Emmet　Priory；　and　likewise　in　due　season　to　Robin　Hood。



How　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　Paid　His　Debts

THE　LONG　HIGHWAY　stretched　straight　on；　gray　and　dusty　in　the　sun。　On　either　side　were　dikes　full　of　water　bordered　by　osiers；　and　far　away　in　the　distance　stood　the　towers　of　Emmet　Priory　with　tall　poplar　trees　around。

Along　the　causeway　rode　a　knight　with　a　score　of　stout　men…at…arms　behind　him。　　The　Knight　was　clad　in　a　plain；　long　robe　of　gray　serge；　gathered　in　at　the　waist　with　a　broad　leathern　belt；　from　which　hung　a　long　dagger　and　a　stout　sword。　But　though　he　was　so　plainly　dressed　himself；　t