Thus humbly he walked slowly up the hall, while his men-at-arms
stood about the door. When he had come to where the Prior sat, he knelt
upon one knee. "Save and keep thee, Sir Prior," said he, "I am come to
keep my day."
Then the first word that the Prior said to him was "Hast thou brought my
money?"
"Alas! I have not so much as one penny upon my body," said the Knight;
whereat the Prior's eyes sparkled.
"Now, thou art a shrewd debtor, I wot," said he. Then, "Sir Sheriff, I
drink to thee."
But still the Knight kneeled upon the hard stones, so the Prior turned
to him again. "What wouldst thou have?" quoth he sharply.
At these words, a slow red mounted into the Knight's cheeks; but still
he knelt. "I would crave thy mercy," said he. "As thou hopest for
Heaven's mercy, show mercy to me. Strip me not of my lands and so reduce
a true knight to poverty."
"Thy day is broken and thy lands forfeit," said the man of law, plucking
up his spirits at the Knight's humble speech.
Quoth Sir Richard, "Thou man of law, wilt thou not befriend me in mine
hour of need?"
"Nay," said the other, "I hold with this holy Prior, who hath paid me my
fees in hard gold, so that I am bounder to him.
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