the merry adventures of robin hood-第41章

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lt；　from　which　hung　a　long　dagger　and　a　stout　sword。　But　though　he　was　so　plainly　dressed　himself；　the　horse　he　rode　was　a　noble　barb；　and　its　trappings　were　rich　with　silk　and　silver　bells。

So　thus　the　band　journeyed　along　the　causeway　between　the　dikes；　till　at　last　they　reached　the　great　gate　of　Emmet　Priory。　　There　the　Knight　called　to　one　of　his　men　and　bade　him　knock　at　the　porter's　lodge　with　the　heft　of　his　sword。

The　porter　was　drowsing　on　his　bench　within　the　lodge；　but　at　the　knock　he　roused　himself　and；　opening　the　wicket；　came　hobbling　forth　and　greeted　the　Knight；　while　a　tame　starling　that　hung　in　a　wicker　cage　within　piped　out；　〃_In　coelo　quies！　In　coelo　quies！_〃　such　being　the　words　that　the　poor　old　lame　porter　had　taught　him　to　speak。

〃Where　is　thy　prior？〃　asked　the　Knight　of　the　old　porter。

〃He　is　at　meat；　good　knight；　and　he　looketh　for　thy　coming；〃　quoth　the　porter；　〃for；　if　I　mistake　not；　thou　art　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea。〃

〃I　am　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea；　then　I　will　go　seek　him　forthwith；〃　said　the　Knight。

〃But　shall　I　not　send　thy　horse　to　stable？〃　said　the　porter。　〃By　Our　Lady；　it　is　the　noblest　nag；　and　the　best　harnessed；　that　e'er　I　saw　in　all　my　life　before。〃　　And　he　stroked　the　horse's　flank　with　his　palm。

〃Nay；〃　quoth　Sir　Richard；　〃the　stables　of　this　place　are　not　for　me；　so　make　way；　I　prythee。〃　　So　saying；　he　pushed　forward；　and；　the　gates　being　opened；　he　entered　the　stony　courtyard　of　the　Priory；　his　men　behind　him。　In　they　came　with　rattle　of　steel　and　clashing　of　swords；　and　ring　of　horses'　feet　on　cobblestones；　whereat　a　flock　of　pigeons　that　strutted　in　the　sun　flew　with　flapping　wings　to　the　high　eaves　of　the　round　towers。


While　the　Knight　was　riding　along　the　causeway　to　Emmet；　a　merry　feast　was　toward　in　the　refectory　there。　　The　afternoon　sun　streamed　in　through　the　great　arched　windows　and　lay　in　broad　squares　of　light　upon　the　stone　floor　and　across　the　board　covered　with　a　snowy　linen　cloth；　whereon　was　spread　a　princely　feast。　At　the　head　of　the　table　sat　Prior　Vincent　of　Emmet　all　clad　in　soft　robes　of　fine　cloth　and　silk；　on　his　head　was　a　black　velvet　cap　picked　out　with　gold；　and　around　his　neck　hung　a　heavy　chain　of　gold；　with　a　great　locket　pendant　therefrom。　Beside　him；　on　the　arm　of　his　great　chair；　roosted　his　favorite　falcon；　for　the　Prior　was　fond　of　the　gentle　craft　of　hawking。　On　his　right　hand　sat　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　in　rich　robes　of　purple　all　trimmed　about　with　fur；　and　on　his　left　a　famous　doctor　of　law　in　dark　and　sober　garb。　　Below　these　sat　the　high　cellarer　of　Emmet；　and　others　chief　among　the　brethren。

Jest　and　laughter　passed　around；　and　all　was　as　merry　as　merry　could　be。　The　wizened　face　of　the　man　of　law　was　twisted　into　a　wrinkled　smile；　for　in　his　pouch　were　fourscore　golden　angels　that　the　Prior　had　paid　him　in　fee　for　the　case　betwixt　him　and　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea。　　The　learned　doctor　had　been　paid　beforehand；　for　he　had　not　overmuch　trust　in　the　holy　Vincent　of　Emmet。

Quoth　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham；　〃But　art　thou　sure；　Sir　Prior；　that　thou　hast　the　lands　so　safe？〃

〃Ay；　marry；〃　said　Prior　Vincent；　smacking　his　lips　after　a　deep　draught　of　wine；　〃I　have　kept　a　close　watch　upon　him；　albeit　he　was　unawares　of　the　same；　and　I　know　right　well　that　he　hath　no　money　to　pay　me　withal。〃

〃Ay；　true；〃　said　the　man　of　law　in　a　dry；　husky　voice；　〃his　land　is　surely　forfeit　if　he　cometh　not　to　pay；　but；　Sir　Prior；　thou　must　get　a　release　beneath　his　sign　manual；　or　else　thou　canst　not　hope　to　hold　the　land　without　trouble　from　him。〃

〃Yea；〃　said　the　Prior；　〃so　thou　hast　told　me　ere　now；　but　I　know　that　this　knight　is　so　poor　that　he　will　gladly　sign　away　his　lands　for　two　hundred　pounds　of　hard　money。

Then　up　spake　the　high　cellarer；　〃Methinks　it　is　a　shame　to　so　drive　a　misfortunate　knight　to　the　ditch。　　I　think　it　sorrow　that　the　noblest　estate　in　Derbyshire　should　so　pass　away　from　him　for　a　paltry　five　hundred　pounds。　　Truly；　I〃

〃How　now；〃　broke　in　the　Prior　in　a　quivering　voice；　his　eyes　glistening　and　his　cheeks　red　with　anger；　〃dost　thou　prate　to　my　very　beard；　sirrah？　By　Saint　Hubert；　thou　hadst　best　save　thy　breath　to　cool　thy　pottage；　else　it　may　scald　thy　mouth。〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　man　of　law　smoothly；　〃I　dare　swear　this　same　knight　will　never　come　to　settlement　this　day；　but　will　prove　recreant。　Nevertheless；　we　will　seek　some　means　to　gain　his　lands　from　him；　so　never　fear。〃

But　even　as　the　doctor　spoke；　there　came　a　sudden　clatter　of　horses'　hoofs　and　a　jingle　of　iron　mail　in　the　courtyard　below。　Then　up　spake　the　Prior　and　called　upon　one　of　the　brethren　that　sat　below　the　salt；　and　bade　him　look　out　of　the　window　and　see　who　was　below；　albeit　he　knew　right　well　it　could　be　none　but　Sir　Richard。

So　the　brother　arose　and　went　and　looked；　and　he　said；　〃I　see　below　a　score　of　stout　men…at…arms　and　a　knight　just　dismounting　from　his　horse。　He　is　dressed　in　long　robes　of　gray　which；　methinks；　are　of　poor　seeming；　but　the　horse　he　rideth　upon　hath　the　richest　coursing　that　ever　I　saw。　The　Knight　dismounts　and　they　come　this　way；　and　are　even　now　below　in　the　great　hall。〃

〃Lo；　see　ye　there　now；〃　quoth　Prior　Vincent。　　〃Here　ye　have　a　knight　with　so　lean　a　purse　as　scarce　to　buy　him　a　crust　of　bread　to　munch；　yet　he　keeps　a　band　of　retainers　and　puts　rich　trappings　upon　his　horse's　hide；　while　his　own　back　goeth　bare。　Is　it　not　well　that　such　men　should　be　brought　low？〃

〃But　art　thou　sure；〃　said　the　little　doctor　tremulously；　〃that　this　knight　will　do　us　no　harm？　　Such　as　he　are　fierce　when　crossed；　and　he　hath　a　band　of　naughty　men　at　his　heels。　Mayhap　thou　hadst　better　give　an　extension　of　his　debt。〃　Thus　he　spake；　for　he　was　afraid　Sir　Richard　might　do　him　a　harm。

〃Thou　needst　not　fear；〃　said　the　Prior；　looking　down　at　the　little　man　beside　him。　　〃This　knight　is　gentle　and　would　as　soon　think　of　harming　an　old　woman　as　thee。〃

As　the　Prior　finished；　a　door　at　the　lower　end　of　the　refectory　swung　open；　and　in　came　Sir　Richard；　with　folded　hands　and　head　bowed　upon　his　breast。　Thus　humbly　he　walked　slowly　up　the　hall；　while　his　men…at…arms　stood　about　the　door。　　When　he　had　come　to　where　the　Prior　sat；　he　knelt　upon　one　knee。　〃Save　and　keep　thee；　Sir　Prior；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　come　to　keep　my　day。〃

Then　the　first　word　that　the　Prior　said　to　him　was　〃Hast　thou　brought　my　money？〃

〃Alas！　　I　have　not　so　much　as　one　penny　upon　my　body；〃　said　the　Knight；　whereat　the　Prior's　eyes　sparkled。

〃Now；　thou　art　a　shrewd　debtor；　I　wot；〃　said　he。　Then；　〃Sir　Sheriff；　I　drink　to　thee。〃

But　still　the　Knight　kneeled　upon　the　hard　stones；　so　the　Prior　turned　to　him　again。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　have？〃　quoth　he　sharply。

At　these　words；　a　slow　red　mounted　into　the　Knight's　cheeks；　but　still　he　knelt。　　〃I　would　crave　thy　mercy；〃　said　he。　〃As　thou　hopest　for　Heaven's　mercy；　show　mercy　to　me。　Strip　me　not　of　my　lands　and　so　reduce　a　true　knight　to　poverty。〃

〃Thy　day　is　broken　and　thy　lands　forfeit；〃　said　the　man　of　law；　plucking　up　his　spirits　at　the　Knight's　humble　speech。

Quoth　Sir　Richard；　〃Thou　man　of　law；　wilt　thou　not　befriend　me　in　mine　hour　of　need？〃

〃Nay；〃　said　the　other；　〃I　hold　with　this　holy　Prior；　who　hath　paid　me　my　fees　in　hard　gold；　so　that　I　am　bounder　to　him。〃

〃Wilt　thou　not　be　my　friend；　Sir　Sheriff？〃　said　Sir　Richard。

〃Nay；　'fore　Heaven；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham；　〃this　is　no　business　of　mine；　yet　I　will　do　what　I　may；〃　and　he　nudged　the　Prior　beneath　the　cloth　with　his　knee。　〃Wilt　thou　not　ease　him　of　some　of　his　debts；　Sir　Prior？〃

At　this　the　Prior　smiled　grimly。　　〃Pay　me　three　hundred　pounds；　Sir　Richard；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　will　give　thee　quittance　of　thy　debt。〃

〃Thou　knowest；　Sir　Prior；　that　it　is　as　easy　for　me　to　pay　four　hundred　pounds　as　three　hundred；〃　said　Sir　Richard。　　〃But　wilt　thou　not　give　me　another　twelvemonth　to　pay　my　debt？〃

〃Not　another　day；〃　said　the　Prior　sternly。

〃And　is　this　all　thou　wilt　do　for　me？〃　asked　the　Knight。

〃Now；　out　upon　thee；　false　knight！〃　cried　the　Prior；　bursting　forth　in　anger。　〃Either　pay　thy　debt　as　I　have　said；　or　release　thy　land　and　get　thee　gone　from　out　my　hall。〃

Then　Sir　Richard　arose　to　his　feet。　　〃Thou　false；　l