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.