Page 285 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

work.’
‘Peace, friend,’ said the Corn Engrosser, ‘for this is no
matter for jesting. The soles of these clogs are not what they
seem to be, for each one is a sweet little box; and by twist-
ing the second nail from the toe, the upper of the shoe and
part of the sole lifts up like a lid, and in the spaces within
are fourscore and ten bright golden pounds in each shoe, all
wrapped in hair, to keep them from clinking and so telling
tales of themselves.’
When the Corn Engrosser had told this, Robin broke
into a roar of laughter and, laying his hands upon the bridle
rein, stopped the sad-looking nag. ‘Stay, good friend,’ quoth
he, between bursts of merriment, ‘thou art the slyest old fox
that e’er I saw in all my life!—In the soles of his shoon, quo-
tha!—If ever I trust a poor-seeming man again, shave my
head and paint it blue! A corn factor, a horse jockey, an es-
tate agent, and a jackdaw for cunningness, say I!’ And he
laughed again till he shook in his shoes with mirth.
All this time the Corn Engrosser had been staring at
Robin, his mouth agape with wonder. ‘Art thou mad,’ quoth
he, ‘to talk in this way, so loud and in such a place? Let us
forward, and save thy mirth till we are safe and sound at
Newark.’
‘Nay,’ quoth Robin, the tears of merriment wet on his
cheeks, ‘on second thoughts I go no farther than here, for
I have good friends hereabouts. Thou mayst go forward if
thou dost list, thou sweet pretty fellow, but thou must go
forward barefoot, for I am afraid that thy shoon must be left
behind. Off with them, friend, for I tell thee I have taken a

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood