So, while some went to kindle the fires for roasting meats, others ran leaping to get their cudgels and longbows. Then Robin brought forward Sir Richard of the Lea. “My Lord Bishop,” said he, “here is another guest that we have with us this day. I wish that thou mightest know him better, for I and all my men will strive to honor you both at this merrymaking.”
“Sir Richard,” said the Bishop in a reproachful tone, “methinks thou and I are companions and fellow sufferers in this den of—” He was about to say “thieves,” but he stopped suddenly and looked askance at Robin Hood.
“Speak out, Bishop,” quoth Robin, laughing. “We of Sherwood check not an easy flow of words. ‘Den of thieves’ thou west about to say.”
Quoth the Bishop, “Mayhap that was what I meant to say, Sir Richard; but this I will say, that I saw thee just now laugh at the scurrilous jests of these fellows. It would have been more becoming of thee, methinks, to have checked them with frowns instead of spurring them on by laughter.”
“I meant no harm to thee,” said Sir Richard, “but a merry jest is a merry jest, and I may truly say I would have laughed at it had it been against mine own self.”