sir nigel-第12章
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the day。 He knelt at his high pre…dieu； the brethren； at a signal
from the prior； prostrated themselves upon the floor； and the low
deep voices rolled in prayer； echoed back from the arched and
vaulted roof like the wash of waves from an ocean cavern。 Finally
the monks resumed their seats； there entered clerks in seemly
black with pens and parchment； the red…velveted summoner appeared
to tell his tale； Nigel was led in with archers pressing close
around him； and then； with much calling of old French and much
legal incantation and mystery； the court of the Abbey was open for
business。
It was the sacrist who first advanced to the oaken desk reserved
for the witnesses and expounded in hard； dry； mechanical fashion
the many claims which the House； of Waverley had against the
family of Loring。 Some generations back in return for money
advanced or for spiritual favor received the Loring of the day had
admitted that his estate had certain feudal duties toward the
Abbey。 The sacrist held up the crackling yellow parchment with
swinging leaden seals on which the claim was based。 Amid the
obligations was that of escuage； by which the price of a knight's
fee should be paid every year。 No such price had been paid； nor
had any service been done。 The accumulated years came now to a
greater sum than the fee simple of the estate。 There were other
claims also。 The sacrist called for his books； and with thin；
eager forefinger he tracked them down： dues for this； and tailage
for that； so many shillings this year； and so many marks that one。
Some of it occurred before Nigel was born； some of it when he was
but a child。 The accounts had been checked and certified by the
sergeant of the law。
Nigel listened to the dread recital； and felt like some young stag
who stands at bay with brave pose and heart of fire； but who sees
himself compassed round and knows clearly that there is no escape。
With his bold young face； his steady blue eyes； and the proud
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； whi
