Page 79 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

‘Nay,’ quoth Robin seriously, ‘it would ill beseem us to
treat Your Worship so meanly. By my faith, Sir Sheriff, I
would be ashamed to show my face if I did not reckon the
King’s deputy at three hundred pounds. Is it not so, my
merry men all?’
Then ‘Ay!’ cried all, in a loud voice.
‘Three hundred devils!’ roared the Sheriff. ‘Think ye that
your beggarly feast was worth three pounds, let alone three
hundred?’
‘Nay,’ quoth Robin gravely. ‘Speak not so roundly, Your
Worship. I do love thee for the sweet feast thou hast given
me this day in merry Nottingham Town; but there be those
here who love thee not so much. If thou wilt look down the
cloth thou wilt see Will Stutely, in whose eyes thou hast no
great favor; then two other stout fellows are there here that
thou knowest not, that were wounded in a brawl nigh Not-
tingham Town, some time ago—thou wottest when; one of
them was sore hurt in one arm, yet he hath got the use of it
again. Good Sheriff, be advised by me; pay thy score with-
out more ado, or maybe it may fare ill with thee.’
As he spoke the Sheriff’s ruddy cheeks grew pale, and he
said nothing more but looked upon the ground and gnawed
his nether lip. Then slowly he drew forth his fat purse and
threw it upon the cloth in front of him.
‘Now take the purse, Little John,’ quoth Robin Hood,
‘and see that the reckoning be right. We would not doubt
our Sheriff, but he might not like it if he should find he had
not paid his full score.’
Then Little John counted the money and found that the

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood