Part 45 (1/2)
”Tied to the saddle ofdeeply
Stuteley took a well-filled bag from under my lord's empty saddle He spread his cloak upon the road and counted out four hundred pieces into it ”The interest,to Robin
”Pay that to this old woive her, further, two hundred of the pieces on thy cloak,” commanded Robin
”We will share with her, even as she hath already shared withwith thereat humor; but forebore to provoke him further
This adventure had, however, banished all hope of Robin haet changed again into adress
The day was old when he was ready to go out once more; and at Stuteley's entreaty Robin consented to wait until the ha been overcoreenwood nify Robin's band and its prowess twenty-fold
Ahts who had followed, hopelessly, in the Princess's train was one whose attentions had ever been very noxious to her This was a coarse, over-fed, over-confident Norames at tourneys and ruthless in battles _a outrance_ His name was Guy of Gisborne, and he hailed from the borders of Lancashi+re To him had fallen the rich fat acres of Broadweald, that place for which poor Hugh Fitzooth had wrestled vainly for so long
He had persecuted her unavailingly--'twas through a scene with him that Scarlett had come so much into theto steal her from the Sheriff at first chance ”No Saxon churl shall hope to carry off this prize froht Sir Guy ”Her beauty pleaseth me, and her fortune will help mine own Therefore, I will follow her meekly until we coht pompous Monceux may find her flown He will be blaone and by whom she hath been trapped”
Sir Guy of Gisborne found another in the field with him; the Princess had not waited for him to steal her The little bird had flown ere Sir Guy's trap had been set
So the Bishop of Hereford found both the Sheriff and Sir Guy in evil huainst Robin; the Sheriff had his coeneral and no man in particular
”Depend on it, Monceux, this rascal hath stolen away your charge,” said the Bishop, in order to stir the Sheriff to greater lengths against Robin ”How can you sit here so idly, first losing your gold plate to hioeth this Princess as ood name
For, without doubt, this matter will cost you your office”
Monceux was overcome with terror; his eyes started out froirl betwixt themselves, now that I think on it,” continued the Bishop, artfully, noting the effect he had made
”'This woman shall share with us'--ay, those were Robin's very words
The Princess hath been stolen by hi towards the woods, 'tis true,” murmured the unhappy Sheriff ”But, truly, I auey business”
”I will encounter the villain for you, Sheriff,” said Sir Guy, with a cunning glance ”And if I do rid you of him, will you swear to stand by me in another matter?”
”Surely, surely”
”Your word on it, then--here in irl hath been told by a council of wiseacres that she iven to another--to myself, in short Swear that you both will help me to win her, and I will take her from your merry Robin and kill him afterward”
They both promised readily that they would do all that he could ask--if only he would kill Robin Hood outright The Bishop had great influence at Court, and Sir Guy intended that he should smooth matters for him after the abduction of the Princess The Sheriff was to hold fast to any story that ht be necessary, and to swear to the little Princess that Sir Guy of Gisborne was the very Saxon whom she had been ordered to marry
”All this is settled between us,” observed the knight, coood archers, and put theuise such as will deceive even your wonderful Robin”
”We will hold over the hanging and flaying of the other rascal until hisRobin to be already caught
CHAPTER xxx
Robin started out early in the day towards the city This ti Marian The demoiselle Marie's plan would surely have succeeded on this day, for Robin was careless of all things but the hope of seeing his dear