d precedent, master friar. It is
turning discipline into profit, penalty into perquisite, public justice
into private revenue. It is rank corruption, master friar."

"Why are laws made?" said the friar. "For the profit of somebody. Of
whom? Of him who makes them first, and of others as it may happen. Was
not I legislator in the last article, and shall I not thrive by my own
law?"

"Well then, sweet Mawd," said the baron, "I must leave you, Mawd: your
life is very well for the young and the hearty, but it squares not with
my age or my humour. I must house, Mawd. I must find refuge: but where?
That is the question."

"Where Sir Guy of Gamwell has found it," said Robin Hood, "near the
borders of Barnsdale. There you may dwell in safety with him and fair
Alice, till King Richard return, and Little John shall give you safe
conduct. You will have need to travel with caution, in disguise and
without attendants, for Prince John commands all this vicinity, and will
doubtless lay the country for you and Marian. Now it is first expedient
to dismiss your retainers. If there be any among them who like our life,
they may stay with us in the greenwood; the rest may return to their
homes."

Some of the baron's men resolved to remain with Robin and Marian, and
were furnished accordingly with suits of green, of which Robin always
kept good store.

Marian now declared that as there was danger in the way to Barnsdale,
she would accompany Little John and the baron, as she should not be
happy unless she herself saw her father placed in security. Robin was
very unwilling to consent to this, and assured her that there was more
danger for her than the baron: but Marian was absolute.

"If so, then," said Robin, "I shall be your guide instead of Little
John, and I shall leave him and Scarlet joint-regents of Sherwood during
my absence, and the voice of Friar Tuck shall be decisive between them
if they differ in nice questions of state policy." Marian objected to
this, that there was more danger for Robin than either herself or the
baron: but Robin was absolute in his turn.

"Talk not of my voice," said the friar; "for if Marian be a damsel
errant, I will be her ghostly esquire."

Robin insisted that this should not be, for number would only expose
them to greater risk of detection. The friar, after some debate,
reluctantly acquiesced.

While they were discussing these matters, they heard the distant sound
of horses' feet.

"Go," sai