sir nigel-第11节

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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；