eft to sell.

As these butchers had nothing to do, they began to talk among
themselves and say, "Who is this man? He has never been here before."

"Do you think he has stolen the meat?"

"Perhaps his father has just died and left him a business."

"Well, his money won't last long at this rate."

"The sooner he loses it all, the better for us. We will never be able
to sell anything as long as he comes here giving away beef at twopence
a pound."

"It is perfectly ridiculous," said one old man, who seemed to be the
chief butcher. "These fifty years have I come and gone to Nottingham
market, and I have never seen the like of it--never. He is ruining the
trade, that's what he is doing."

They stood at their stalls sulky and cross, while all their customers
crowded round Robin.

Shouts of laughter came from his corner, for he was not only selling
beef and mutton, but making jokes about it all the time.

"I tell you what," said the old butcher, "it is no use standing here
doing nothing. We had better go and talk to him, and find out, if we
can, who he is. We must ask him to come and have dinner with us and
the Sheriff in the town hall to-day." For on market days the butchers
used to have dinner all together in the town hall, after market was
over, and the sheriff used to come and have dinner with them.

"So, the butchers stepped up to jolly Robin,
Acquainted with him for to be;
Come, butcher, one said, we be all of one trade,
Come, will you go dine with me?"

"Thank you," said Robin, "I should like nothing better. I have had a
busy morning and am very hungry and thirsty."

"Come along, then," said the butchers.

The old man led the way with Robin, and the others followed two by
two.

As they walked along, the old butcher began asking Robin questions, to
try and find out something about him.

"You have not been here before?" he said.

"Have I not?" replied Robin.

"I have not seen you, at least."

"Have you not?"

"You are new to the business?"

"Am I?"

"Well, you seem to be," said the old butcher, getting rather cross.

"Do I?" replied Robin, laughing.

At last they came to the town hall, and though they had talked all the
time the old butcher had got nothing out of Robin, and was not a bit
the wiser.

The Sheriff's house was close to the town hall, so as dinner was
not quite ready all the butchers went to say "How do you do?" to the
Sheriff's wife.

She received them very kindl