"And as you will remember, I was always particularly fond of apple
trees," I interpolated.

"Mr. Selwyn," smiled Lisbeth, "let me introduce you to Mr. Brent."

"Sir," said I, "I am delighted to make your acquaintance; have heard
Her Grace of Chelsea speak of you - her friends are mine, I trust?"

Mr. Selwyn's bow was rather more than distant.

"I have already had the pleasure of meeting this - this very original
gentleman before, and under rather peculiar circumstances, Miss
Elizabeth," he said, and forthwith plunged into an account of the
whole affair of the "ambushes," while Lisbeth, perched upon her lofty
throne, surveyed us with an ever-growing astonishment.

"Whatever does it all mean ?" she inquired as Mr. Selwyn made an end.

"You must know, then," I explained, leaning upon my quarter-staff,
"the Imp took it into his head to become Robin Hood; I was
Little-John, and Mr. Selwyn here was so very obliging as to enact
the role of Sheriff of Nottingham - "

"I beg your pardon," exc1aimed Mr. Selwyn indignantly, turning upon
me with a fiery eye.

"Every one recollects the immortal exploits of Robin and his 'merrie
men,'" I continued, "and you will, of course, remember that they
had a habit of capturing the sheriff and tying him up to trees and