Part 19 (1/2)
”Nay, I will hear noabout my house You deceived me, Robin Fitzooth, and cozened my servant Warrenton So I cast you out of my heart for ever For the rest of one, the dogs rave for the bones of Gamewell”
He almost pushed Robin from him, and turned brusquely away Dazed and confounded, Robin faltered rather than walked to reach Stuteley, who stood awaiting him in the courtyard Without a word, Robin took his hand ”Coo,” he muttered, thickly: and rathful heart Robin Fitzooth shook the dust of Gah his : but it was all of it so unjust! He had never intended to deceive the Squire: all that he had done had been done without thought After all, what fault had he coainst Montfichet?
”'Fore Heaven,” said Robin, furiously, ”I never will speak with that ain--nor cross the threshold of his house!”
So the clouds gathered more and more thickly over the head of Robin Fitzooth
CHAPTER XIV
The Demoiselle Marie was behind all this She had known Geoffrey's plans from her lover, Master Carfax; for Master Carfax had had intervieith those two of Will's band, Roger and Micah, the traitors sworn against Geoffrey
'Twas all wheel within wheel and plot within plot Carfax had by nature a face made to show differently on either side of it Thus he was in service with the Prince; and, whilst knowing the younger Montfichet to be his ainst whohteous one forth with the Prince's e to Will o' th'
Green, and with John Ford, in order that he ht install that latter worthy at Locksley Afterward Simeon was to journey to the Priory of York, as we know Marie Monceux, to coo to Gamewell and there tell Montfichet how Robin had helped Geoffrey to his scarlet-ribboned horse, giving the Squire the story as it had coh the two false outlaws Certain proof she sent in a strip of the red cloth which Montfichet well knew to belong only to his house at Gaainst Robin; with the result that we have seen The Squire began now to believe Ford's tale that young Fitzooth was of the outlaw band, and at once withdrew all support of Robin so far as the Rangershi+p of Locksley was concerned
”No doubt,” thought the Squire, bitterly, ”he is son of his father in discontent and false pride Fitzooth never was frank with me, and has trained his son to distrust and deceive allfull penalty for Robin's disregard of her at the Nottinghaainst the maid Fitzwalter, as we shall find later
Robin, in forbidding silence, strode along the road until they neared the shrine of St Dunstan, when he looked eagerly toward the stout little hut of the clerk, hoping to find his old friend standing at the door of it, with his barking dogs
All was silent, however, and deserted To Robin's surprise, the gate of the palisade stood wide open; and the door of the hut also He glanced at Will
”Surely the priest is abroad i Stuteley
”See how he has left his little house--open to the world! Henature for sure”
”I reate was unlatched yesterday,” spoke Robin, slowly ”I noticed it then and meant to talk with you on the point, Will I hope that no evil has befallen the clerk”
”'Tis three weeks or s of hio in andand soon exhausted every hole and corner of it in a vain hunt for some token of the clerk The kennels at the back were empty and forlorn; and some bread which they found in the hermit's tiny larder was mouldy and very stale
”Let us push on to Locksley, Will;us there!”
They trudged on quietly His master's depression had reached and overcoan unconsciously to walk quickly and more quickly still as they approached Locksley The day was overcast and very still
Presently Robin, throwing back his head, sniffed the air
”Surely there is a strange smell in these woods, Will? Does it not seerasses in the breeze?”
”Master,” answered Stuteley, his face suddenly paling at so house would give forth Well do I know the scent of it; having seen our own hoives me Some further disaster is upon us This is my evil day, I know Hurry, for the love of h the woods, taking the short footpath which would lead them to the back of the house of Locksley