“A most worthy Bishop,” said Robin ironically. “What is the sum of your debt?”
“Four hundred pounds,” said Sir Richard, “and the Bishop swears he will foreclose the mortgage if they are not paid promptly.”
“Have you any friends who would become surety for you?”
“Not one. If good King Richard were here, the tale might be otherwise.”
“Fill your goblet again, Sir Knight,” said Robin; and he turned to whisper a word in Marian’s ear. She nodded and drew Little John and Will Scarlet aside and talked earnestly with them, in a low tone.
“Here is health and prosperity to you, gallant Robin,” said Sir Richard, tilting his goblet. “I hope I may pay your cheer more worthily, the next time I ride by.”
Will Scarlet and Little John had meanwhile fallen in with Marian’s idea, for they consulted the other outlaws, who nodded their heads. Thereupon Little John and Will Scarlet went into the cave near by and presently returned bearing a bag of gold. This they counted out before the astonished knight; and there were four times one hundred gold pieces in it.
“Take this loan from us, Sir Knight, and pay your debt to the Bishop,” then said Robin. “Nay, no thanks; you are but exchanging creditors. Mayhap we shall not be so hard upon you as the Christian Bishop; yet, again we may be harder. Who can tell?”
There were actual tears in Sir Richard’s eyes, as he essayed to thank the foresters. But at this juncture, Much, the miller’s son, came from the cave dragging a bale of cloth. “The knight should have a suit worthy of his rank, master—think you not so?”
“Measure him twenty ells of it,” ordered Robin.