How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts

           THELONGHIGHWAYstretchedstraighton,grayanddustyinthesun.Oneithersideweredikesfullofwaterborderedbyosiers,andfarawayinthedistancestoodthetowersofEmmetPriorywithtallpoplartreesaround.

           Alongthecausewayrodeaknightwithascoreofstoutmen-at-armsbehindhim.TheKnightwascladinaplain,longrobeofgrayserge,gatheredinatthewaistwithabroadleathernbelt,fromwhichhungalongdaggerandastoutsword.Butthoughhewassoplainlydressedhimself,thehorseherodewasanoblebarb,anditstrappingswererichwithsilkandsilverbells.

           Sothusthebandjourneyedalongthecausewaybetweenthedikes,tillatlasttheyreachedthegreatgateofEmmetPriory.TheretheKnightcalledtooneofhismenandbadehimknockattheporter’slodgewiththeheftofhissword.

           Theporterwasdrowsingonhisbenchwithinthelodge,butattheknockherousedhimselfand,openingthewicket,camehobblingforthandgreetedtheKnight,whileatamestarlingthathunginawickercagewithinpipedout,"Incoeloquies!Incoeloquies!"suchbeingthewordsthatthepooroldlameporterhadtaughthimtospeak.

           "Whereisthyprior?"askedtheKnightoftheoldporter.

           "Heisatmeat,goodknight,andhelookethforthycoming,"quoththeporter,"for,ifImistakenot,thouartSirRichardoftheLea."

           "IamSirRichardoftheLea;thenIwillgoseekhimforthwith,"saidtheKnight.