"And where is your authority?" I demanded, wroth at being interfered with on my own land.
For answer he pulled a parchment from his pouch and held it up for my inspection.
"And have you any proof, sir, that you are lord of Holwick ?" he continued.
Save for a few papers relating to the finding of the treasure I had none; even the title deeds, though close at hand, were not to be produced till the stream had been diverted; so I shook my head. Surely it was a pretty pass--a knight without a scrap of script to prove himself such!
"Then, till you get authority from the sheriff I cannot allow you to tarry here," said the bailiff in a deferential yet decisive tone.
"Then there remains but for me to journey to York," I replied. "How far lies the city?"
"One hour's ride by Fulford will bring
