ders and sat down on the limb of a fallen tree.
Resistance was quite useless, with no weapon save a dagger, and no
armor but silk and velvet.

"The unanimity of your desires does me much honor," he said; "pray
proceed."

The leader lowered his bow.

"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Sir Aymer de Lacy," said he, "and
particularly to be received so graciously."

"You know me?"

"We saw you arrive yesterday--but there were so many with you we
hesitated to ask a quiet word aside."

The Knight smiled. "It is unfortunate--I assure you my talk would have
been much more interesting then."

"In that case it is we who are the losers."

De Lacy looked him over carefully.

"Pardieu, man," said he, "your language shames your business."

The outlaw bowed with sweeping grace.

"My thanks, my lord, my deepest thanks." He unstrung his bow and
leaned upon the stave; a fine figure in forest green and velvet bonnet,
a black mask over eyes and nose, a generous mouth and strong chin below
it. "Will your worship favor me with your dagger?" he said.

The Knight tossed it to him.

"Thank you . . . a handsome bit of craftsmanship . . . these stones are
true ones, _n'est ce pas_?"

"If they are not, I was cheated in the price," De Lacy laughed.

The other examined it critically.

"Methinks you were not cheated," he said, and drew it through his belt.
"And would your lordship also permit me a closer view of the fine gold
chain that hangs around your neck?"

De Lacy took it off and flung it over.

"It I will warrant true," he said.

The outlaw weighed the links in his hand, then bit one testingly.

"So will I," said he, and dropped the chain in his pouch.

"And the ring with the ruby--it is a ruby, is it not?--may I also
examine it? . . . I am very fond of rubies. . . Thank you; you are
most obliging. . . It seems to be an especially fine stone--and
worth . . . how many rose nobles would you say, my lord?"

"I am truly sorry I cannot aid you there," De Lacy answered; "being
neither a merchant nor a robber, I have never reckoned its value."

The other smiled. "Of course, by 'merchant,' your worship has no
reference to my good comrades nor myself."

"None whatever, I assure you."

"Thank you; I did not think you would be so discourteous. . . But
touching money reminds me that doubtless there is some such about
you--perhaps you will permit me to count it for you."

The Knight drew out a handful of coins. "