in the
woods, to pay you your moneys with my thanks added thereto; but you have
happily saved me and mine the journey. Welcome to my castle, recovered
to me by your generosity."

[Illustration: LITTLE JOHN SINGS A SONG AT THE BANQUET

_That evening, whilst Monceux raged and stormed without, they all sat to
a great feast._

[** "D.McK." (the illustrator?), below and to the left of the
illustration, is probably a part of the illustration. The c is
underlined and superscripted. The period after the K is not evident.]]

Sir Richard presented his wife to Robin, and his son, who had but just
returned from the Holy Land. The knight told him how the last few months
had been most prosperous with him, instead of going so badly as he had
feared; and explained that now, from one source and another, he was
as rich as of yore. "So when we have feasted I will take you to my
treasury, and there count you out thy money and its interest faithfully.
Yet in ridding myself of this debt I do not free my life of the
obligation."

"You need say no more, Sir Richard," interposed Robin. "'Tis we who owe
_all_ to you. As for your debt, why, it hath been repaid me already by
my lord of Hereford. Is it not so, Stuteley?"

The little esquire protested solemnly that the Bishop had paid it to
them as conscience-money. "Then I will pay it again," cried the knight,
cheerfully, "sooner than be outdone by a Bishop in the matter of
honesty; and I have a few presents for you, but these I will show you
later."

Robin thanked him gratefully, and, taking him on one side, told how
boy's clothes were covering Mistress Marian and Dame Fennel at this
instant. Would the knight's wife take charge of them, and find them some
apparel as would ease one of them at least from most uneasy feelings?

That evening, whilst Monceux raged and stormed without, they all sat to
a great feast. Little John was already so much recovered of his wound as
to sing them a song, whilst Robin made sweet accompaniment upon a harp.

The knight showed Robin presently his treasury, and again implored him
to take the four hundred pieces of gold, if he would take no interest.
But his guest was firm: "Keep the money, for it is your own. I have but
made the Bishop return to you that which he had first stolen from your
hands."

Sir Richard again expressed his thanks, and now led them to his armory.
Therein Robin saw, placed apart, a hundred strong bows with fine waxen
silk strings,