sir nigel-第13章

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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；　〃methinks　you　show
overmuch　zeal　in　this　case；　and　certes；　we　are　well　able　to　uphold
the　dignity　and　honor　of　the　Abbey　court　without　any　rede　of
thine。　　As　to　you；　worthy　summoner；　you　will　give　your　opinion
when　we　crave　for　it；　and　not　before；　or　you　may　yourself　get　some
touch　of　the　power　of　our　tribunal。　　But　your　case　hath　been
tried；　Squire　Loring；　and　judgment　given。　　I　have　no　more　to　say。〃

He　motioned　with　his　hand；　and　an　archer　laid　his　grip　upon　the
shoulder　of　the　prisoner。　　But　that　rough　plebeian　touch　woke
every　passion　of　revolt　in　Nigel's　spirit。　　Of　all　his　high　line
of　ancestors；　was　there　one　who　had　been　subjected　to　such
ignominy　as　this？　　Would　they　not　have　preferred　death？　　And
should　he　be　the　first　to　lower　their　spirit　or　their　traditions？
With　a　quick；　lithe　movement；　he　slipped　under　the　arm　of　the
archer；　and　plucked　the　short；　straight　sword　from　the　soldier's
side　as　he　did　so。　　The　next　instant　he　had　wedged　himself　into
the　recess　of　one　of　the　narrow　windows；　and　there　were　his　pale
set　face；　his　burning　eyes；　and　his　ready　blade　turned　upon　the
assembly。

〃By　Saint　Paul！〃　said　he；　〃I　never　thought　to　find　honorable
advancement　under　the　roof　of　an　abbey；　but　perchance　there　may；
be　some　room　for　it　ere　you　hale　me　to　your　prison。〃

The　chapter…house　was　in　an　uproar。　　Never　in　the　long　and
decorous　history　of　the　Abbey　had　such　a　scene　been　witnessed
within　its　walls。　　The　monks　themselves　seemed　for　an　instant　to
be　infected　by　this　spirit　of　daring　revolt。　　Their　own　lifelong
fetters　hung　more　loosely　as　they　viewed　this　unheard…of　defiance
of　authority。　　They　broke　from　their　seats　on　either　side　and
huddled　half…scared；　half…fascinated；　in　a　large　half…circle　round
the　defiant　captive；　chattering；　pointing；　grimacing；　a　scandal
for　all　time。　　Scourges　should　fall　and　penance　be　done　for　many　a
long　week　before　the　shadow　of　that　day　should　pass　from　Waverley。
But　meanwhile　there　was　no　effort　to　bring　them　back　to　their
rule。　　Everything　was　chaos　and　disorder。　　The　Abbot　had　left　his
seat　of　justice　and　hurried　angrily　forward；　to　be　engulfed　and
hustled　in　the　crowd　of　his　own　monks　like　a　sheep…dog　who　finds
himself　entangled　amid　a　flock。

Only　the　sacrist　stood　clear。　　He　had　taken　shelter　behind　the
half…dozen　archers；　who　looked　with　some　approval　and　a　good　deal
of　indecision　at　this　bold　fugitive　from　justice。

〃On　him！〃　cried　the　sacrist。　　〃Shall　he　defy　the　authority　of　the
court；　or　shall　one　man　hold　six　of　you　at　bay？　　Close　in　upon　him
and　seize　him。　　You；　Baddlesmere；　why　do　you　hold　back？〃

The　man　in　question；　a　tall　bushy…bearded　fellow；　clad　like　the
others　in　green　jerkin　and　breeches　with　high　brown　boots；
advanced　slowly；　sword　in　hand；　against　Nigel。　　His　heart　was　not
in　the　business；　for　these　clerical　courts　were　not　popular；　and
everyone　had　a　tender　heart　for　the　fallen　fortunes　of　the　house
of　Loring　and　wished　well　to　its　young　heir。

〃Come；　young　sir；　you　have　caused　scathe　enough；〃　said　he。　　〃Stand
forth　and　give　yourself　up！〃

〃Come　and　fetch　me；　good　fellow；〃　said　Nigel；　with　a　dangerous
smile。

The　archer　ran　in。　　There　was　a　rasp　of　steel；　a　blade　flickered
like　a　swift　dart　of　flame；　and　the　man　staggered　back；　with　blood
running　down　his　forearm　and　dripping　from　his　fingers。　　He　wrung
them　and　growled　a　Saxon　oath。

〃By　the　black　rood　of　Bromeholm！〃　he　cried；　〃I　had　as　soon　put　my
hand　down　a　fox's　earth　to　drag　up　a　vixen　from　her　cubs。〃

〃Standoff！〃　said　Nigel　curtly。　　〃I　would　not　hurt　you；　but　by
Saint　Paul！　　I　will　not　be　handled；　or　some　one　will　be　hurt　in
the　handling。〃

So　fierce　was　his　eye　and　so　menacing　his　blade　as　he　crouched　in
the　narrow　bay　of　the　window　that　the　little　knot　of　archers　were
at　a　loss　what　to　do。　　The　Abbot　had　forced　his　way　through　the
crowd　and　stood；　purple　with　outraged　dignity；　at　their　side。

〃He　is　outside　the　law；〃　said　he。　　〃He　hath　shed　blood　in　a　court
of　justice；　and　for　such　a　sin　there　is　no　forgiveness。　　I　will
not　have　my　court　so　flouted　and　set　at　naught。　　He　who　draws　the
sword；　by　the　sword　also　let　him　perish。　　Forester　Hugh　lay　a
shaft　to　your　bow！〃

The　man；　who　was　one　of　the　Abbey's　lay　servants；　put　his　weight
upon　his　long　bow　and　slipped　the　loose　end　of　the　string　into　the
upper　notch。　　Then；　drawing　one　of　the　terrible　three…foot　arrows；
steel…tipped　and　gaudily　winged；　from　his　waist；　he　laid　it　to　the
string。

〃Now　draw　your　bow　and　hold　it　ready！〃　cried　the　furious　Abbot。
〃Squire　Nigel；　it　is　not　for　Holy　Church　to　shed　blood；　but　there
is　naught　but　violence　which　will　prevail　against　the　violent；　and
on　your　head　be　the　sin。　　Cast　down　the　sword　which　you　hold　in
your　hand！〃

〃Will　you　give　me　freedom　to　leave　your　Abbey？〃

〃When　you　have　abided　your　sentence　and　purged　your　sin。〃

〃Then　I　had　rather　die　where　I　stand　than　give　up　my　sword。〃

A　dangerous　flame　lit　in　the　Abbot's　eyes。　　He　came　of　a　fighting
Norman　stock；　like　so　many　of　those　fierce　prelates　who；　bearing　a
mace　lest　they　should　be　guilty　of　effusion