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poise of his head； he was a worthy scion of the old house； and the
sun； shining through the high oriel window； and showing up the
stained and threadbare condition of his once rich doublet； seemed
to illuminate the fallen fortunes of his family。
The sacrist had finished his exposition； and the sergeant…at…law
was about to conclude a case which Nigel could in no way
controvert； when help came to him from an unexpected quarter。 It
may have been a certain malignity with which the sacrist urged his
suit； it may have been a diplomatic dislike to driving matters to
extremes； or it may have been some genuine impulse of kindliness；
for Abbot John was choleric but easily appeased。 Whatever the
cause； the result was that a white plump hand； raised in the air
with a gesture of authority； showed that the case was at an end。
〃Our brother sacrist hath done his duty in urging this suit；〃 said
he； 〃for the worldly wealth of this Abbey is placed in his pious
keeping； and it is to him that we should look if we suffered in
such ways； for we are but the trustees of those who come after us。
But to my keeping has been consigned that which is more precious
still； the inner spirit and high repute of those who follow the
rule of Saint Bernard。 Now it has ever been our endeavor； since
first our saintly founder went down into the valley of Clairvaux
and built himself a cell there； that we should set an example to
all men in gentleness and humility。 For this reason it is that we
built our houses in lowly places； that we have no tower to our
Abbey churches； and that no finery and no metal； save only iron or
lead； come within our walls。 A brother shall eat from a wooden
platter； drink from an iron cup； and light himself from a leaden
sconce。 Surely it is not for such an order who await the
exaltation which is promised to the humble； to judge their own
case and so acquire the lands of their neighbor！ If our cause be
just； as indeed I believe that it is； then it were better that it
be judged at the King's assizes at Guildford； and so I decree that
the case be now dismissed from the Abbey court so that it can be
heard elsewhere。〃
Nigel breathed a prayer to the three sturdy saints who had stood
by him so manfully and well in the hour of his need。 〃Abbot
John；〃 said he； 〃I never thought that any man of my name would
utter thanks to a Cistercian of Waverley； but by Saint Paul！ you
have spoken like a man this day； for it would indeed be to play
with cogged dice if the Abbey's case is to be tried in the Abbey
court。〃
The eighty white…clad brethren looked with half resentful； half
amused eyes as they listened to this frank address to one who； in
their small lives； seemed to be the direct vice…regent of Heaven。
The archers had stood back from Nigel； as though he was at liberty
to go； when the loud voice of the summoner broke in upon the
silence
〃If it please you； holy father Abbot；〃 cried the voice； 〃this
decision of yours is indeed secundum legem and intra vires so far
as the civil suit is concerned which lies between this person and
the Abbey。 That is your affair； but it is I； Joseph the summoner；
who have been grievously and criminally mishandled； my writs；
papers and indentures destroyed； my authority flouted； and my
person dragged through a bog； quagmire or morass； so that my
velvet gabardine and silver badge of office were lost and are； as
I verily believe； in the morass； quagmire or bog aforementioned；
which is the same bog； morass … 〃
〃Enough！〃 cried the Abbot sternly。 〃Lay aside this foolish
fashion of speech and say straitly what you desire。〃
〃Holy father； I have been the officer of the King's law no less
than the servant of Holy Church； and I have been let； hindered and
assaulted in the performance of my lawful and proper duties；
whilst my papers； drawn in the King's name； have been shended and
rended and cast to the wind。 Therefore； I demand justice upon
this man in the Abbey court； the said assault having been
committed within the banlieue of the Abbey's jurisdiction。〃
〃What have you to say to this； brother sacrist？〃 asked the Abbot
in some perplexity。
〃I would say； father； that it is within our power to deal gently
and charitably with all that concerns ourselves； but that where a
the King's officer is concerned we are wanting in our duty if we
give him less than the protection that he demands。 I would remind
you also； holy father； that this is not the first of this man's
violence； but that he has before now beaten our servants； defied
our authority； and put pike in the Abbot's own fish…pond。〃
The prelate's heavy cheeks flushed with anger as this old
grievance came fresh into his mind。 His eyes hardened as he
looked at the prisoner。 〃Tell me； Squire Nigel； did you indeed
put pike in the pond？〃
The young man drew himself proudly up。 〃Ere I answer such a
question； father Abbot； do you answer one from me； and tell me
what the monks of Waverley have ever done for me that I should
hold my hand when I could injure them？〃
A low murmur ran round the room； partly wonder at his frankness；
and partly anger at his boldness。
The Abbot settled down in his seat as one who has made up his
mind。 〃Let the case of the summoner be laid before me；〃 said he。
〃Justice shall be done； and the offender shall be punished； be he
noble or simple。 Let the plaint be brought before the court。〃
The tale of the summoner； though rambling and filled with endless
legal reiteration； was only too clear in its essence。 Red Swire；
with his angry face framed in white bristles； was led in； and
confessed to his ill treatment of the official。 A second culprit；
a little wiry nut…brown archer from Churt； had aided and abetted
in the deed。 Both of them were ready to declare that young Squire
Nigel Loring knew nothing of the matter。 But then there was the
awkward incident of the tearing of the writs。 Nigel； to whom a
lie was an impossibility； had to admit that with his own hands he
had shredded those august documents。 As to an excuse or an
explanation； he was too proud to advance any。 A cloud gathered
over the brow of the Abbot； and the sacrist gazed with an ironical
smile at the prisoner； while a solemn hush fell over the
chapterhouse as the case ended and only； judgment remained。
〃Squire Nigel；〃 said the Abbot； 〃it was for you； who are； as all
men know； of ancient lineage in this land； to give a fair example
by which others should set their conduct。 Instead of this； your
manor house has ever been a center for the stirring up of strife；
and now not content with your harsh showing toward us； the
Cistercian monks of Waverley； you have even marked your contempt
for the King's law； and through your servants have mishandled the
person of his messenger。 For such offenses it is in my power to
call the spiritual terrors of the Church upon your head； and yet I
would not be harsh with you； seeing that you are young； and that
even last week you saved the life of a servant of the Abbey when
in peril。 Therefore； it is by temporal and carnal means that I
will use my power to tame your overbold spirit； and to chasten
that headstrong and violent humor which has caused such scandal in
your dealings with our Abbey。 Bread and water for six weeks from
now to the Feast of Saint Benedict； with a daily exhortation from
our chaplain； the pious Father Ambrose； may still avail to bend
the stiff neck and to soften the hard heart。〃
At this ignominious sentence by which the proud heir of the house
of Loring would share the fate of the meanest village poacher； the
hot blood of Nigel rushed to his face； and his eye glanced round
him with a gleam which said more plainly than words that there
could be no tame acceptance of such a doom。 Twice he tried to
speak； and twice his anger and his shame held the words in his
throat。
〃I am no subject of yours； proud Abbot！〃 he cried at last。 〃My
house has ever been vavasor to the King。 I deny the power of you
and your court to lay sentence upon me。 Punish these your own
monks； who whimper at your frown； but do not dare to lay your hand
upon him who fears you not； for he is a free man； and the peer of
any save only the King himself。〃
The Abbot seemed for an instant taken aback by these bold words；
and by the high and strenuous voice in which they were uttered。
But the sterner sacrist came as ever to stiffen his will。 He held
up the old parchment in his hand。
〃The Lorings were indeed vavasors to the King；〃 said he； 〃but here
is the very seal of Eustace Loring which shows that he made
himself vassal to the Abbey and held his land from it。〃
〃Because he was gentle；〃 cried Nigel； 〃because he had no thought
of trick or guile。〃
〃Nay！〃 said the summoner。 〃If my voice may be heard； father
Abbot； upon a point of the law； it is of no weight what the causes
may have been why a deed is subscribed； signed or confirmed； but a
court is concerned only with the terms； articles； covenants and
contracts of the said deed。〃
〃Besides；〃 said the sacrist； 〃sentence is passed by the Abbey
court； and there is an end of its honor and good name if it be not
upheld。〃
〃Brother sacrist；〃 said the Abbot angrily；