But where she failed Cuthbert might succeed, for he was absolutely unknown to Robin, and if the two were to meet face to face in the forest, it would be impossible that the wily old man (if old he were) should suspect him of any ulterior purpose.
Robin had not been at the mill the night that Cuthbert had been brought there by Tyrrel and his companions.

Joanna had described him so graphically that the lad was certain of knowing him were he to come across him in the forest.

She had also indicated to him the region in which she suspected him most generally to lurk when he spent days and sometimes weeks alone in the forest.

She believed that during the summer months, when the forest became the resort of many wandering bands of gipsies or of robbers and outlaws, he kept a pretty close and constant watch upon the spot where his treasure lay hid.

The dell, at the head of which the bones of the seven murdered men had been found, was certainly a favourite spot of his; and she believed it was owing to some trickery of his that men still declared it haunted by evil or troubled spirits.