Part 51 (2/2)
Within the church, waiting for them soberly at the chancel steps, was my lord of Hereford, dressed out in his finest and richest robes, and beside him Friar Tuck For Robin Hood and Will Scarlett the Bishop had endon and Nottingha man could only profess an abundance of respect
The brides were to be escorted fro hie, and had promised them jewels and to spare when they were co and noise from the mob without the church told of their approach The people ith joy at having their King aesses, apprentices were all in their best, their wives and their sweethearts all dressed out in splendid attire As the King juate, and held out his strong hand to help the brides from off their milk-white mares, the whole place became alive with excitement and rapture
Littletheir offerings prettily under the feet of the two beauteous blushi+ng brides, who leaned so ti's proud arun and both couples ell nigh wed The Bishop had spoken the Latin service impressively and with unction
In the first row stood Monceux, in all the pomp of his shrievalty, with his councilmen and alder eyes, glared impotently at the chief actors in this historic scene
Alonefrom it was the cold, colorless beauty of the demoiselle Marie She had taken herself to her rooain But now that the doubleher way rudely through the gathered crowd at the church door She ild-eyed, dishevelled, her dress fastened all awry Folks looked once at her, and then exchanged glances between thee,the Bishop She had elbowed a path for herself to the chancel steps ”I do forbid the er frouilty, and Holy Church may not countenance her” She shrilled, desperately, ”'Twas she who foully killed Master Fitzwalter, her own father, and I have proof of it!”
”'Tis false!” roared Robin, then beside hireat for you?”
”There is no need for defence,” spoke the King; ”the charge is too wild and foolish an one Seize this woman, some of you, and take her without
I will deal with her later” He iuards, and at once the deentle with her,” pleaded Marian; ”she is distraught, and hath not coive this; I have no quarrel with Mistress Monceux”
The demoiselle had suddenly become quiet under the fierce hands of Much and Little John She allowed thenominiously forth At the door of the church she turned once as though to renew her preposterous charges, but contented herself nant hate Then she was gone; and people stirred the been within touch of the plague
The Sheriff had stared with protruding eyes of horror and disone, that the dreadful episode was done, he gasped hurriedly and sat down His mind became confused, his vision obscured as by a cloud The service was finished Robin and Marian, Geoffrey and Aiether for the rest of their lives The Bishop pronounced a blessing; and forgetting himself utterly in the emotion of thekissed the brides, and after hined their names in the church books, and the trumpeters and heralds h the streets of Nottinghas and s rent the air, and people showered flowers and blessings upon thereenwood ht and left fros All the treasure that they had accu's bowhts, of Norman oppression, of laws for the poor and none for the rich, was ended The King had said it, and the King had already ood the promise in his words
Afterward, at Gamewell, Richard conferred upon Montfichet full rank as Baron of the Realm, with power to speak and vote in the Upper Court of Appeal, the highest rank in the land, next to the King himself Sir Richard of the Lee and his son becarants of land in perpetuity
Turning to Marian, the King wished her every joy that she could wish herself, and gave to her the lands of Broadweald in Lancashi+re to hold in her own right for ever ”Thus you shall have wealth to share with your Robin; and I counsel you both to ood use of your days My subjects who are loyal to ive you, Aimee, the Castle of Acquitaine, which I held under rant until his death You kno fair a spot it is, and hoeet the sky of France! Help her to administer her riches, Geoffrey, wisely and well; and be you all ready when I shall call upon you Now God save you all Amen”
EPILOGUE
In all sincerity there should be nothat we have found ourselves at last cos with the Sheriff Most histories end, and end properly, with just such a e as we have seen
Yet, to tell the truth, however strange and distressful, is the business of a good historian; and so it ain for Robin Hood For five years he lived in peace and prosperity, a faithful, loyal subject, having two sons born to hi and furious, and claidon
For a tiht He had no joy left to hiy or hope; a ave his two boys into the charge of Geoffrey of Nottingha that hebut one of a guard of honor, as he and his one to France, and John was acting as Regent of England in his absence ”Go, shoot someheard Robin ih of them he will make you Privy Councillor at the least when he returns”
This great insult fired Robin's blood; he had been in a strange distemper ever since the fatal day of his beloved's death He answered the disdainful Prince scornfully; and John, grohite with anger, bade his guards to seize upon him