ostrils, and he sniffed it eagerly. The morning's ride had made him
hungry; and he was nothing loath when they bade him come to the dinner.
Robin gave him the best place beside himself, and the Bishop prepared to
fall to.

"Nay, my lord, craving your pardon, but we are accustomed to have grace
before meat," said Robin decorously. "And as our own chaplain is not
with us to-day, will you be good enough to say it for us?"

The Bishop reddened, but pronounced grace in the Latin tongue hastily,
and then settled himself to make the best of his lot. Red wines and ale
were brought forth and poured out, each man having a horn tankard from
which to drink.

Laughter bubbled among the diners, and the Bishop caught himself smiling
at more than one jest. But who, in sooth, could resist a freshly broiled
venison streak eaten out in the open air to the tune of jest and good
fellowship? Stutely filled the Bishop's beaker with wine each time he
emptied it, and the Bishop got mellower and mellower as the afternoon
shades lengthened on toward sunset. Then the approaching dusk warned him
of his position.

"I wish, mine host," quoth he gravely to Robin, who had soberly drunk
but one cup of ale, "that you would now call a reckoning. 'Tis late, and
I fear the cost of this entertainment may be more than my poor purse can
stand."

For he bethought himself of his friend, the Sheriff's former experience.

"Verily, your lordship," said Robin, scratching his head, "I have
enjoyed your company so much, that I scarce know how to charge for it."

"Lend me your purse, my lord," said Little John, interposing, "and
I'll give you the reckoning by and by." The Bishop shuddered. He had
collected Sir Richard's debt only that morning, and was even then
carrying it home.

"I have but a few silver pennies of my own," he whined; "and as for the
gold in my saddle-bags, 'tis for the church. Ye surely would not levy
upon the church, good friends."

But Little John was already gone to the saddle-bags, and returning
he laid the Bishop's cloak upon the ground, and poured out of the
portmantua a matter of four hundred glittering gold pieces. 'Twas the
identical money which Robin had lent Sir Richard a short while before!

"Ah!" said Robin, as though an idea had but just then come to him. "The
church is always willing to aid in charity. And seeing this goodly sum
reminds me that I have a friend who is indebted to a churchman for this
exact amount. Now we shal