"God forbid," exclaimed the bandit, "that I should put a gallant
gentleman to any such embarrassment--but you must admit it were a shame
to have gown and doublet and yet no bonnet to match them. . ."

The Knight took it off and sent it spinning toward him.

"Note the feather," he said. "It is rarely long and heavy."

"I observed that yesterday," was the merry response.

"Is there anything else about me you care for?" De Lacy asked.

"Nothing--unless you could give me your rarely generous disposition.
Methinks I never met a more obliging gentleman."

The Knight arose. "Then, as I am already overdue at Windsor, I shall
give you good morning."

The archer raised his hand.

"I am sorry, my lord, but we must impose a trifle further on your good
nature and ask you to remain here a while," and he nodded to the man
beside him, who drew a thin rope from his pouch and came forward.

De Lacy started back--the leveled arrows met him on every side.

"You would not bind me!" he exclaimed.

The outlaw bowed again.