over glad to have a guest who promised to enliven the feast. So, as
I have told you, he placed Robin by his side, and he made much of him
and laughed boisterously at his jests; though sooth to say, the laugh
were come by easily, for Robin had never been in merrier mood, and his
quips and jests soon put the whole table at a roar.

Then my lord Bishop of Hereford came in, last of all, to say a ponderous
grace and take his seat on the other side of the Sheriff--the prelate's
fat body showing up in goodly contrast to the other's lean bones.

After grace was said, and while the servants clattered in with the meat
platters, Robin stood up and said:

"An amen say I to my lord Bishop's thanks! How, now, my fine fellows, be
merry and drink deep; for the shot I'll pay ere I go my way, though it
cost me five pounds and more. So my lords and gentlemen all, spare not
the wine, but fall to lustily."

"Hear! hear!" shouted the butchers.

"Now are you a right jolly soul," quoth the Sheriff, "but this feast is
mine own. Howbeit you must have many a head of horned beasts, and many
an acre of broad land, to spend from your purse so freely."

"Aye, that have I," returned Robin, his eyes all a twinkle, "five
hundred horned beasts have I and my brothers, and none of them have we
been able to sell. That is why I have turned butcher. But I know not the
trade, and would gladly sell the whole herd, an I could find a buyer."

At this, the Sheriff's greed 'gan to rise. Since this fool _would_ be
plucked, thought he, why should not he do the plucking?

"Five hundred beasts, say you?" he queried sharply.

"Five hundred and ten fat beasts by actual count, that I would sell for
a just figure. Aye, to him who will pay me in right money, would I sell
them for twenty pieces of gold. Is that too much to ask, lording?"

Was there ever such an idiot butcher? thought the Sheriff; and he so far
forgot his dignity as to nudge the Bishop in his fat ribs.

"Nay, good fellow," quoth he chuckling, "I am always ready to help
any in my shire. An you cannot find a buyer for your herd at this just
figure, I will e'en buy them myself."

At this generosity Robin was quite overcome, and fell to praising the
Sheriff to the skies, and telling him that he should not have cause to
forget the kindness.

"Tut, tut," said the Sheriff, "'tis naught but a trade. Drive in your
herd tomorrow to the market-place and you shall have money down."

"Nay, excellence," said