Were
Robin Hood himself to take me, he might search me from crown to heel
without finding the smallest piece of money upon me. I trust I am too
sly to travel so nigh to Sherwood with money in my pouch, and that thief
at large in the woods."
Then merry Robin looked up and down, as if to see that there was no one
nigh, and then, coming close to the Corn Engrosser, he stood on tiptoe
and spake in his ear, "Thinkest thou in sooth that I am a beggar, as I
seem to be? Look upon me. There is not a grain of dirt upon my hands
or my face or my body. Didst thou ever see a beggar so? I tell thee I
am as honest a man as thou art. Look, friend." Here he took the purse
of money from his breast and showed to the dazzled eyes of the Corn
Engrosser the bright golden pieces. "Friend, these rags serve but to
hide an honest rich man from the eyes of Robin Hood."
"Put up thy money, lad," cried the other quickly. "Art thou a fool, to
trust to beggar's rags to shield thee from Robin Hood? If he caught
thee, he would strip thee to the skin, for he hates a lusty beggar as he
doth a fat priest or those of my kind.
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