"The hospital of St. Leonard's has compelled us unjustly to render
them a thrave of corn."

"Thou art a cunning knave! Pinch the belly if you would make
Englishmen rise."

"True," said Robin, smiling grimly; "and now--what say you--will you
head us?"

"Head you! No I"

"Will you betray us?"

"It is not easy to betray twenty thousand men; if ye rise merely to
free yourselves from a corn-tax and England from the Woodvilles, I see
no treason in your revolt."

"I understand you, Lord Montagu," said Robin, with a stern and half-
scornful smile,--"you are not above thriving by our danger; but we
need now no lord and baron,--we will suffice for ourselves. And the
hour will come, believe me, when Lord Warwick, pursued by the king,
must fly to the Commons. Think well of these things and this
prophecy, when the news from the North startles Edward of March in the
lap of his harlots."

Without saying another word, he turned and quitted the chamber as
abruptly as he had entered.

Lord Montagu was not, for his age, a bad man; though worldly, subtle,
and designing, with some of the craft of his prelate brother he united