“There, there, don’t get angry, Fitz-Alwine; my intentions are good. I can place a million beside your ten thousand pieces of gold. What am I saying? One million, probably two.”

  “I know you are rich,” interrupted the Baron. “Unhappily, I am not on a level with you there, and yet I would fain place my daughter in the rank of the greatest ladies in Europe. I want the Lady Christabel’s position to be equal to that of a queen. You are aware of this paternal desire, and yet you refuse to entrust me with the money necessary to realise it.”

  “I cannot understand, my dear Fitz-Alwine, what difference it can make to the happiness of your daughter, an I keep the half of my fortune in mine own hands. I will settle the income of a million, of two millions even, on the Lady Christabel, but I must retain the control of the capital. Do not distress yourself, my wife shall lead the life of a queen.”

  “That is all very well, in words, my dear Sir Tristan; but permit me to remind you that when there is a great disparity in the ages of husband and wife, misunderstanding is apt to be their guest. It might happen that the caprices of a young woman would become unbearable to you, and you would take back what you had given. If I kept half your fortune in mine own hands, I should be satisfied as to the future happiness of my daughter; she would have nothing to fear, and you might e’en quarrel with her to your heart’s content.”

  “Quarrel? You are joking, my dear Baron; never could such a misfortune occur. I am too fond of the pretty little dove to wish to annoy her. For twelve years I have aspired to the honour of her hand, and yet you think me capable of reproving her caprices; she may have as many as e’er she please, for she will be rich and able to satisfy them.”

  “Permit me to remark that, if you still refuse to accede to my demands, I shall distinctly retract the promise I have given you.”

  “You are too hasty, Baron, much too hasty,” grumbled the old man. “Let us discuss the matter a little longer.”

  “I have already said all there is to say; I have come to a decision.”

  “Do not be obstinate, Fitz-Alwine. What if I were to place fifty thousand pieces of gold in your hands?”

  “I should ask whether you intended to insult me.”

  “To insult you, Fitz-Alwine? What a poor opinion you must have of me! If I said two hundred thousand pieces of gold?”

  “Sir Tristan, this must end. I know your immense fortune, and the offer you make me is a mere mockery. What am I to do with your two hundred thousand pieces of gold?”

  “Did I say two hundred thousand, Baron? I meant to say five hundred thousand five hundred, do you understand? Now, isn’t that a noble sum, a very noble sum?”

  “True,” replied the Baron, “but you have just told me that you could lay two million beside my daughter’s ten thousand pieces of gold. Give me one million, and my Christabel shall be your wife to-morrow if you wish it, my dear Sir Tristan.”

  “A million! You want me to give you a million, Fitz-Alwine! Truly your demand is absurd. I cannot in conscience place half my fortune in your hands.”

  “Do you doubt my honour and good faith?” cried the Baron, irritably.

  “Not in the least, my good friend.”

  “Do you imagine that I have any motive other than my daughter’s happiness?”

  “I know that you love the Lady Christabel, but...”

  “But what?” thundered the Baron. “Decide quickly, or I annul for ever the promises I have made.”

  “You do not give me time for reflection.”

  At this moment a serving-man knocked softly at the door.

  “Come in,” said the Baron.

  “My Lord,” said the man, “a messenger from the King hath brought urgent news, and awaits your Lordship’s good pleasure to announce them.”

  “Bring him hither,” replied the Baron. “Now, Sir Tristan, one last word. If you do not accede to my wishes before the entry of the messenger, who will be here in two minutes, you shall not have the Lady Christabel.”

  “Hear me, Fitz-Alwine, pray hear me.”

  “I will hear nothing. My daughter is worth a million; besides, you told me that you loved her.”

  “Tenderly, very tenderly,” mumbled the hideous old man.

  “Well, then, Sir Tristan, you will be very unhappy, for you are about to be separated from her for ever. I know a young lord, as noble as a king, rich, very rich, and good-looking, who only awaits my permission to lay his name and fortune at my daughter’s feet. If you hesitate a second longer, to-morrow note well, to-morrow the maiden you love, my daughter, the beautiful and charming Christabel, will be the wife of your more fortunate rival.”

  “You are pitiless, Fitz-Alwine!”

  “I hear the messenger. Answer yes or no.”

  “But, Fitz-Alwine...”

  “Yea or nay?”

  “Yea, yea,” stammered the old man.

  “Sir Tristan, my good friend, only think of your happiness; my daughter is a treasure of grace and beauty.”

  “It is true she is very beautiful,” said the amorous old man.

  “And that she is worth a million pieces of gold,” added the Baron, with a sneer “Sir Tristan, she is yours.”

  Thus did Baron Fitz-Alwine sell his daughter, the beautiful Lady

  Christabel, to Sir Tristan Goldsborough for a million pieces of gold.

  As soon as he was announced, the messenger informed the Baron that a soldier who had killed the captain of his regiment had been pursued as far as Nottinghamshire. The King’s orders to Baron Fitz-Alwine were to have this soldier seized and hanged without mercy.

  The messenger dismissed, Lord Fitz-Alwine wrung the trembling hands of his daughter’s future husband, excusing himself for leaving him at this happy moment, but the King’s commands were peremptory, and must be obeyed without the least delay.

  Three days after this most honourable bargain had been struck between the Baron and Sir Tristan, the fugitive soldier was taken prisoner and thrown into a dungeon of Nottingham Castle.

  Robin Hood still continued an active search for William, who was, alas!, the poor soldier seized by the Baron’s men.

  In despair at the ill success of his investigations throughout the county of Yorkshire, Robin Hood sought the Forest once more, hoping to hear something from his followers, who, posted on the roads leading from Mansfield to Nottingham, might perchance have discovered some traces of the young man.

  About a mile from Mansfield, Robin Hood met Much, the miller’s son, who, mounted like himself on a spirited horse, was galloping at full speed in the direction from which Robin had just come.

  On seeing his young leader, Much uttered a cry of joy, and drew rein.

  “How glad I am to meet you, friend!” said he. “I was going to Barnsdale. I have news of the lad who was with you the first time we met.”

  “Have you, indeed? We have been seeking him these three days past.”

  “I have seen him.”

  “When?”

  “Last evening.”

  “Where?”

  “At Mansfield, whither I returned, after spending eight and forty hours with my new companions. As I drew near my father’s house, I perceived at the door a troop of horse, on one of which sat a young man with his arms tightly bound. In him I recognised your friend. The soldiers, who were refreshing themselves, had left their prisoner guarded by the cords which bound him to the horse. Without attracting their attention, I was able to convey to the poor lad that I would at once hasten to Barnsdale and inform you of the misfortune which had overtaken him. This promise revived the courage of your friend, and he thanked me with an expressive look. Without losing a moment I called for a horse, and as I mounted asked a soldier some questions as to the fate in store for their prisoner; he replied that by order of Baron Fitz-Alwine they were taking the young man to Nottingham Castle.”

  “I thank you for the trouble you have taken to help me, my good Much,” replied Robin. “You have just told me everything I wanted to know, and we shall be unlucky indeed an we do not succeed in preventing the cruel intentions of his Norman Lordship. To horse, good Much. Let us hasten to the heart of the Forest; there I will take measures for a successful expedition.”

  “Where is Little John?” asked Much.

  “He is making his way to our retreat by another road; by separating, we each hoped to obtain news. Fortune hath favoured me, since I had the luck to meet you, brave Much.”

  “The luck is on my side,” replied Much, cheerily; “my actions are governed by your will alone.”

  Robin smilingly acknowledged the compliment, then set off at a gallop, followed closely by his companion.

  On arriving at the general rendezvous, Robin and Much found Little John already there. After giving the latter the news Much had brought, Robin ordered him to assemble the men scattered through the Forest, form them into one troop, and take them to the verge of the wood near Nottingham Castle. There, concealed in the covert of the trees, they were to await a summons from Robin, and hold themselves ready to fight. These arrangements concluded, Robin and Much mounted again, and set off at full gallop on the way to Nottingham.

  “Friend,” said Robin, when they had reached the edge of the Forest, “here we are at the end of our journey. I must not enter Nottingham; my presence in the town would be known at once, and its motive (which I wish to conceal) discovered. You understand, don’t you? If William’s enemies became aware of my sudden appearance, they would be on their guard, and, in consequence, it would be more difficult for us to set our friend at liberty. You must go alone into the town, and then make your way to a cottage lying on the outskirts of the place. There you will find a good friend of mine, by name Halbert Lindsay; in the event of his absence, his comely wife, who well deserves her pretty name of Grace, will tell you where to find him. You will seek him out and bring him to me. Is that quite clear?”

  “Perfectly.”

  “Very well, then go! I will stay here to keep a look-out.”

  Left alone, Robin hid his horse in the thicket, stretched himself beneath the shade of an oak, and set to work to devise a plan of campaign for poor Will’s successful deliverance. While bringing all his inventive faculties to bear upon this subject, the young man kept a careful watch on the road.

  Presently he saw in the distance a richly dressed young knight approaching the Forest from the direction of Nottingham.

  “By my faith!” said Robin to himself, “if this gay traveller is of Norman blood, he does well to choose this direction for his country walk. Dame Fortune appears to have treated him so kindly, that it will be a pleasure to relieve his pockets of the price of the bows and arrows which will be broken to-morrow in William’s honour. His habit is sumptuous, his gait haughty; of a truth, this gallant is well met. Come along, my fine gentleman, you will be all the lighter when we have become acquainted.”

  Rising quickly from his recumbent position, Robin placed himself in the traveller’s way. The latter, expecting, doubtless, some token of politeness, stopped courteously.

  “Welcome, Sir Knight,” said Robin, putting his hand to his cap. “The sky is so dark that I took your glorious appearance for a messenger from the sun. Your smiling countenance brightens the landscape, and if you would remain a few minutes longer on the verge of the old Forest, the very flowers hidden beneath its shade would take you for a ray of light.”

  The stranger laughed gaily.

  “Do you belong to Robin Hood’s band?” he asked.

  “You judge by appearances, Sir,” plied the young man, “and because you see me clothed in the garb of the foresters, you presume that I must belong to Robin Hood’s band. You are wrong. All the inhabitants of the Forest do not follow the fortunes of the Outlaw Chief.”

  “That’s like enow,” returned the stranger, in a tone of manifest impatience. “I thought I had met a member of the company of Merrie Men. I was wrong, that is all.”

  The traveller’s reply excited Robin’s curiosity.

  “Master,” said he, “your countenance betokens a hearty frankness, which, despite the profound hatred I have borne against the Normans these many years past...”

  “I am no Norman, Sir Forester,” interrupted the traveller, “and I might imitate you in saying that you, too, judge by appearances. My dress and the accent of my speech lead you into error. I am Saxon, though there are a few drops of Norman blood in my veins.”

  “A Saxon is a brother to me, Master, and I am happy to be able to give you a proof of my confidence, I do belong to Robin Hood’s band. As you are doubtless aware, we use a less disinterested fashion of making ourselves known to Norman travellers.”

  “I know that fashion, at once courteous and productive,” replied the stranger, laughingly. “I have often heard of it, and I am on my way to Sherwood solely that I may have the pleasure of meeting your leader.”

  “And what if I were to tell you that you were now in the presence of Robin Hood?”

  “I would offer him my hand,” replied the stranger, quickly, accompanying the words with a friendly gesture. “And I would say to him, ‘Friend Robin, have you forgotten Marian’s brother?’”

  “Allan Clare! You are Allan Clare!” exclaimed Robin, gleefully.

  “Yea, I am Allan Clare. And the recollection of your expressive countenance, my dear Robin, was so deep graven on my heart that I recognised you at the first glance.”

  “How glad I am to see you, Allan!” replied Robin Hood, shaking the young man by both hands. “Marian doth not expect the happiness which your return to England will give her.”

  “My poor dear sister!” said Allan, with an expression of deep tenderness. “Is she well? Is she happy?”

  “Her health is perfect, Allan, and she hath no other sorrow than that of being separated from you.”

  “I have returned, never to quit my native land again. My good sister will then be quite happy. Did you hear, Robin, that I was in the service of the King of France?”

  “Yea. One of the Baron’s men, and the Baron himself in a burst of confidence produced by fear, made known to us your position about the King’s person.”

  “A lucky chance enabled me to render the King of France a great service,” continued the Knight, “and in his gratitude he deigned to acquaint himself with my desires, and took a great and friendly interest in me. His Majesty’s kindness emboldened me, and I made known my troubles to him. I told him how my goods had been confiscated, and I besought him to allow me to return to England. The King was so gracious as to grant my prayer; he gave me a letter to King Henry on the spot, and, without losing a moment, I started for this country. At the request of the King of France, Henry II. restored to me my father’s property; and the King’s Treasury will have to give me back in good golden crowns the revenue produced by mine estates since their confiscation. Beside which, I have realised a large sum, which, once placed in the hands of Baron Fitz-Alwine, is to win me the hand of my dear Christabel.”

  “I have heard of the bargain,” said Robin. “The seven years given you by the Baron are on the point of expiring, are they not?”

  “Yea. To-morrow is my last day of grace.”

  “Well, then, you had best hasten to see the Baron, for the delay of an hour would be your loss.”

  “How did you learn of the existence of this contract and its conditions?”

  “From my cousin, Little John.”

  “Sir Guy of Gamwell’s gigantic nephew?” asked Allan.

  “The very same; then you remember the worthy fellow?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Well, he is now bigger than ever, and stronger even than he is tall. It was from him that I learnt of your arrangement with the Baron.”

  “Lord Fitz-Alwine took him into his confidence, then?” said Allan, with a smile.

  “Yea, Little John threatened his Lordship, and interrogated him at the point of the dagger.”

  “Then I can quite comprehend the Baron’s expansiveness.”

  “My good friend,” replied Robin, gravely, “beware of Lord Fitz-Alwine. He bears you no love, and if he can find a means of breaking his oath, he will not hesitate to do so.”

  “Should he attempt to dispute with me over Lady Christabel’s hand, I swear to you, Robin, I will make him repent it bitterly.”

  “Have you any especial means of making the Baron fear your threats?”

  “Yea; and beside, were I unable to obtain the fulfilment of his promise, I would lay siege to the Castle sooner than give up my Christabel.”

  “An you want help, I am entirely at your service, good Allan; I can immediately place at your disposal two hundred men, fleet of foot and strong of arm. They are equally well skilled in the use of bow, sword, lance and buckler; say but one word, and at my command they will be with us.”

  “A thousand thanks, dear Robin. I expected no less from your good friendship.”

  “And you were right; but tell me how learned you that I dwelt in Sherwood Forest?”

  “Having concluded my business in London,” replied the Knight, “I came to Nottingham. There I heard of the Baron’s return, and of Christabel’s presence at the Castle. Being assured of the existence of my beloved, I repaired to Gamwell. Imagine my astonishment on entering the village and finding only the ruins of the good Knight’s noble dwelling. I returned to Mansfield with all haste, and an inhabitant of that town told me what had occurred. He sang your praises to me, and informed me that the Gamwell family had retired secretly to their Yorkshire lands. Tell me of my sister Marian, Robin Hood; is she much changed?”

  “Yes, Allan, she is indeed changed.”

  “My poor sister!”

  “She is of a perfect beauty now,” continued Robin, laughing, “for each spring hath added to her graces.”

  “Is she married?” asked Allan.

  “Nay, not yet.”

  “So much the better. Do you know if she hath given her heart to any one, or if her hand is promised?”

  “Marian shall answer that question,” said Robin, blushing slightly. “How hot it is to-day!” he added, passing his hand over his flushed brow. “Do let us go into the shade of the trees; I am expecting one of my men, and meseemeth his absence is unduly prolonged. By the way, Allan, do you recall one of the sons of Sir Guy William, surnamed Scarlett, by reason of the something vivid hue of his locks?”