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lt； from which hung a long dagger and a stout sword。 But though he was so plainly dressed himself； the horse he rode was a noble barb； and its trappings were rich with silk and silver bells。
So thus the band journeyed along the causeway between the dikes； till at last they reached the great gate of Emmet Priory。 There the Knight called to one of his men and bade him knock at the porter's lodge with the heft of his sword。
The porter was drowsing on his bench within the lodge； but at the knock he roused himself and； opening the wicket； came hobbling forth and greeted the Knight； while a tame starling that hung in a wicker cage within piped out； 〃_In coelo quies！ In coelo quies！_〃 such being the words that the poor old lame porter had taught him to speak。
〃Where is thy prior？〃 asked the Knight of the old porter。
〃He is at meat； good knight； and he looketh for thy coming；〃 quoth the porter； 〃for； if I mistake not； thou art Sir Richard of the Lea。〃
〃I am Sir Richard of the Lea； then I will go seek him forthwith；〃 said the Knight。
〃But shall I not send thy horse to stable？〃 said the porter。 〃By Our Lady； it is the noblest nag； and the best harnessed； that e'er I saw in all my life before。〃 And he stroked the horse's flank with his palm。
〃Nay；〃 quoth Sir Richard； 〃the stables of this place are not for me； so make way； I prythee。〃 So saying； he pushed forward； and； the gates being opened； he entered the stony courtyard of the Priory； his men behind him。 In they came with rattle of steel and clashing of swords； and ring of horses' feet on cobblestones； whereat a flock of pigeons that strutted in the sun flew with flapping wings to the high eaves of the round towers。
While the Knight was riding along the causeway to Emmet； a merry feast was toward in the refectory there。 The afternoon sun streamed in through the great arched windows and lay in broad squares of light upon the stone floor and across the board covered with a snowy linen cloth； whereon was spread a princely feast。 At the head of the table sat Prior Vincent of Emmet all clad in soft robes of fine cloth and silk； on his head was a black velvet cap picked out with gold； and around his neck hung a heavy chain of gold； with a great locket pendant therefrom。 Beside him； on the arm of his great chair； roosted his favorite falcon； for the Prior was fond of the gentle craft of hawking。 On his right hand sat the Sheriff of Nottingham in rich robes of purple all trimmed about with fur； and on his left a famous doctor of law in dark and sober garb。 Below these sat the high cellarer of Emmet； and others chief among the brethren。
Jest and laughter passed around； and all was as merry as merry could be。 The wizened face of the man of law was twisted into a wrinkled smile； for in his pouch were fourscore golden angels that the Prior had paid him in fee for the case betwixt him and Sir Richard of the Lea。 The learned doctor had been paid beforehand； for he had not overmuch trust in the holy Vincent of Emmet。
Quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham； 〃But art thou sure； Sir Prior； that thou hast the lands so safe？〃
〃Ay； marry；〃 said Prior Vincent； smacking his lips after a deep draught of wine； 〃I have kept a close watch upon him； albeit he was unawares of the same； and I know right well that he hath no money to pay me withal。〃
〃Ay； true；〃 said the man of law in a dry； husky voice； 〃his land is surely forfeit if he cometh not to pay； but； Sir Prior； thou must get a release beneath his sign manual； or else thou canst not hope to hold the land without trouble from him。〃
〃Yea；〃 said the Prior； 〃so thou hast told me ere now； but I know that this knight is so poor that he will gladly sign away his lands for two hundred pounds of hard money。
Then up spake the high cellarer； 〃Methinks it is a shame to so drive a misfortunate knight to the ditch。 I think it sorrow that the noblest estate in Derbyshire should so pass away from him for a paltry five hundred pounds。 Truly； I〃
〃How now；〃 broke in the Prior in a quivering voice； his eyes glistening and his cheeks red with anger； 〃dost thou prate to my very beard； sirrah？ By Saint Hubert； thou hadst best save thy breath to cool thy pottage； else it may scald thy mouth。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the man of law smoothly； 〃I dare swear this same knight will never come to settlement this day； but will prove recreant。 Nevertheless； we will seek some means to gain his lands from him； so never fear。〃
But even as the doctor spoke； there came a sudden clatter of horses' hoofs and a jingle of iron mail in the courtyard below。 Then up spake the Prior and called upon one of the brethren that sat below the salt； and bade him look out of the window and see who was below； albeit he knew right well it could be none but Sir Richard。
So the brother arose and went and looked； and he said； 〃I see below a score of stout men…at…arms and a knight just dismounting from his horse。 He is dressed in long robes of gray which； methinks； are of poor seeming； but the horse he rideth upon hath the richest coursing that ever I saw。 The Knight dismounts and they come this way； and are even now below in the great hall。〃
〃Lo； see ye there now；〃 quoth Prior Vincent。 〃Here ye have a knight with so lean a purse as scarce to buy him a crust of bread to munch； yet he keeps a band of retainers and puts rich trappings upon his horse's hide； while his own back goeth bare。 Is it not well that such men should be brought low？〃
〃But art thou sure；〃 said the little doctor tremulously； 〃that this knight will do us no harm？ Such as he are fierce when crossed； and he hath a band of naughty men at his heels。 Mayhap thou hadst better give an extension of his debt。〃 Thus he spake； for he was afraid Sir Richard might do him a harm。
〃Thou needst not fear；〃 said the Prior； looking down at the little man beside him。 〃This knight is gentle and would as soon think of harming an old woman as thee。〃
As the Prior finished； a door at the lower end of the refectory swung open； and in came Sir Richard； with folded hands and head bowed upon his breast。 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。〃
〃Wilt thou not be my friend； Sir Sheriff？〃 said Sir Richard。
〃Nay； 'fore Heaven；〃 quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham； 〃this is no business of mine； yet I will do what I may；〃 and he nudged the Prior beneath the cloth with his knee。 〃Wilt thou not ease him of some of his debts； Sir Prior？〃
At this the Prior smiled grimly。 〃Pay me three hundred pounds； Sir Richard；〃 said he； 〃and I will give thee quittance of thy debt。〃
〃Thou knowest； Sir Prior； that it is as easy for me to pay four hundred pounds as three hundred；〃 said Sir Richard。 〃But wilt thou not give me another twelvemonth to pay my debt？〃
〃Not another day；〃 said the Prior sternly。
〃And is this all thou wilt do for me？〃 asked the Knight。
〃Now； out upon thee； false knight！〃 cried the Prior； bursting forth in anger。 〃Either pay thy debt as I have said； or release thy land and get thee gone from out my hall。〃
Then Sir Richard arose to his feet。 〃Thou false； l