l.

He took Robin's letter to Monceux, and added his own request to it,
never doubting that so ordinary a matter as this would be long a-doing.
The Rangership of Locksley Woods was Robin's by every right: for the
house and garden had been given to Hugh Fitzooth in perpetuity by the
King. So at least they all had understood.

Master Monceux, lord Sheriff of Nottingham, took the letters and read
them with a thin smile; then bore them to his daughter's chamber, and
laid them before her. "Truly the enemies of our King are not lacking in
audacity," sneered Master Monceux, when Mistress Monceux had mastered
the scrolls.

"What will you do?" asked she, curiously.

"This is the young archer who won my arrow," remarked the Sheriff.
"Robin Fitzooth of Locksley. Observe that his father has been killed by
one of the King's deer; like as not whilst he was attempting to snare
it. His son asks now for the post: this son who shoots with a peacocked
arrow to win my prize."

"Say you so? Then this boy is of the outlaws of Sherwood?" Her thin lips
parted over her white teeth in an evil doubt, as she asked her father:
"How do you know that the arrow was winged with a peacock's feather? Did
you see it yourself?"

"John Ford brought it to me."

"Ford is a very untrustworthy knave. I would that some other of the
foresters had told you."

The Sheriff was vexed at this. "I have no hesitation in the matter,
child. But give heed, for now I must either agree to this recommendation
of my lord Montfichet, or refuse it because I have already appointed
some other to the place. Can you not suggest a man to me?"

"Let it be one distasteful both to Montfichet and to this boastful
youth," said the demoiselle Monceux, eagerly. "Send Ford, or one of the
scullions from our kitchen, that they may know our contempt for them.
And bid the young archer to us here; he should be whipped and put in the
stocks," she added, vindictively.

"Will you reply to those scrolls then, child?" said the Sheriff, glad to
be relieved of a task which he did not relish. "Let it be Ford; he is
captain of the foresters hereabouts, and has been staying at Gamewell. I
hear that young Locksley is not over-fond of him. But be discreet in
your scrivening, and say only that which is necessary, child."

"I will bring the letters when they are penned, and will read them to
you," said his daughter.

In due course, then, came the Sheriff's reply to Robin's request. It was
couch