Call together your merchants' guild, and ask its members--By the way,"
said Roland, suddenly checking himself, "give to me in writing the
amount of gold I have sent you."
The unsuspecting merchant did so, and Roland's eyes opened with
astonishment when he glanced at the total. He then placed the paper in
the wallet he carried.
"You were perhaps about to suggest that a committee be appointed,"
ventured the merchant.
"Yes; a small but capable committee, of which you shall be chairman and
treasurer. But first you will ask the merchants to subscribe, out of
their known wealth, a sum equaling the gold I filched from the Barons."
The merchant's face fell, and took on a doleful expression.
"The times, your Highness, have long been very bad, none of us making
money--"
The Prince held up his hand, and the merchant ceased his plaint.
"If I can strip a Baron of his wealth," he said, "I will not waste words
over the fleecing of merchants. This contribution is to be given in the
name of the three Archbishops, whose heavy hands came down on you after
the late insurrection.
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