I not Sheriff of Nottingham?"

"If you are, in sooth," retorted the knight, "you should know that you
have no authority within my lands unless you bear the King's order. In
the meantime, go mend your manners, lording."

And Sir Richard snapped his fingers and disappeared from the walls. The
Sheriff, after lingering a few moments longer in hope of further parley,
was forced to withdraw, swearing fiercely.

"The King's order!" muttered he. "That shall I have without delay,
as well as this upstart knight's estates; for King Richard is lately
returned, I hear, from the Holy Land."

Meanwhile the knight had gone back to Robin Hood, and the two men
greeted each other right gladly. "Well met, bold Robin!" cried he,
taking him in his arms. "Well met, indeed! The Lord has lately prospered
me, and I was minded this day to ride forth and repay my debt to you."

"And so you have," answered Robin gaily.

"Nay, 'twas nothing--this small service!" said the knight. "I meant the
moneys coming to you."

"They have all been repaid," said Robin; "my lord of Hereford himself
gave them to me."

"The exact sum?" asked the knight.

"The exact sum," answered Robin, winking solemnly.

Sir Richard smiled, but said no more at the time. Robin was made to rest
until dinner should be served. Meanwhile a leech bound up his hand with
ointment, promising him that he should soon have its use again. Some
halfscore others of the yeomen had been hurt in the fight, but luckily
none of grave moment. They were all bandaged and made happy by bumpers
of ale.

At dinner Sir Richard presented Robin to his wife and son. The lady was
stately and gracious, and made much of Marian, whom she had known as
a little girl and who was now clothed more seemly for a dinner than in
monkish garments. The young esquire was a goodly youth and bade fair to
make as stout a knight as his father.

The feast was a joyous event. There were two long tables, and two
hundred men sat down at them, and ate and drank and afterward sang
songs. An hundred and forty of these men wore Lincoln green and called
Robin Hood their chief. Never, I ween, had there been a more gallant
company at table in Lea Castle!

That night the foresters tarried within the friendly walls, and the next
day took leave; though Sir Richard protested that they should have made
a longer stay. And he took Robin aside to his strong room and pressed
him again to take the four hundred golden pounds. But his gu