disliked the maid Fitzwalter; and had now seen a
chance to injure her through Robin. Since he had given this girl the
arrow which he had denied to her, the Sheriff's daughter, there could be
no doubt that strong friendship, at the least, existed between them, so
that any blow at Robin must recoil upon Mistress Fitzwalter.

Demoiselle Monceux therefore credited largely Master Ford's story.

"Go to the hall, and there await my father, Master Ford," said Mistress
Monceux, at last. "I will speak again with him when he has returned from
Gamewell. He is there now on your behalf, in a way," she added,
meaningly.

Monceux, knowing that Montfichet would require an explanation of the
refusal to instal Robin in his father's place, had set himself out to be
beforehand with the Squire. At once he had endeavored to satisfy old
Gamewell by telling him the story of the peacocked arrow. "Readily can I
unfold that mystery to you," said Montfichet. "Our Robin was pursued by
two of the outlaws when on the way to your tourney. 'Tis like enough
that he picked up one of their arrows."

"When they were in chase of him?" asked the Sheriff, with ready reply.

"Well, that is true; and yet, stay--I do mind me that the Clerk of
Copmanhurst did speak of some shooting match in which Robin was forced
to employ himself with Will o' th' Green, on the day that they journeyed
here from Locksley. Then it was that Robin must have become owner of the
peacocked arrow. The thing is quite plain to me."

"The clerk himself has been suspected of colleaguing with these robbers
of the forest, friend Gamewell," whispered the Sheriff, leaning forward
towards the Squire. "And they do say that Will was at our tourney--was
none other, indeed, than the very Roughbeard from whom young Robin so
cleverly did snatch my arrow of gold. Nay, nay, I think the evidence
points very strongly against Fitzooth; yet since he is your nephew I
have forborne to press my charge against him."

"I'll believe no harm of Robin," said the Squire, decisively.

"Still you will see there is reason in my refusal of his request,"
smiled Monceux. And old Gamewell had to agree, although unwillingly.

So were the clouds upon Robin's horizon gathering apace.

He gravely continued in his duties at Locksley, filling up his leisure
with long and frequent practice in archery with Warrenton. A month went
by and he had heard no more of Master Ford nor of the Sheriff, and so
engrossed did Robin beco