. Within
three days I will have them at our mercy."

"They are an ancient family and of good repute. I would not treat them
too harshly, brother."

"Bethink you of the pike in the carp pond!"

The Abbot hardened his heart at the thought. "It was indeed a devil's
deed--when we had but newly stocked it with char and with carp. Well,
well, the law is the law, and if you can use it to hurt, it is still
lawful to do so. Have these claims been advanced?"

"Deacon the bailiff with his two varlets went down to the Hall
yesternight on the matter of the escuage, and came screaming back with
this young hothead raging at their heels. He is small and slight, yet
he has the strength of many men in the hour of his wrath. The bailiff
swears that he will go no more, save with half a score of archers to
uphold him."

The Abbot was red with anger at this new offense. "I will teach him that
the servants of Holy Church, even though we of the rule of Saint Bernard
be the lowliest and humblest of her children, can still defend their own
against the froward and the violent! Go, cite this man before the Abbey
court. Let him appear in the chapter-house after tierce to-morrow."

But the wary sacrist shook his head: "Nay, holy father, the times are
not yet ripe. Give me three days, I pray you, that my case against him
may be complete. Bear in mind that the father and the grandfather of
this unruly squire were both famous men of their day and the foremost
knights in the King's own service, living in high honor and dying in
their knightly duty. The Lady Ermyntrude Loring was first lady to
the King's mother. Roger FitzAlan of Farnham and Sir Hugh Walcott of
Guildford Castle were each old comrades-in-arms of Nigel's father, and
sib to him on the distaff side. Already there has been talk that we have
dealt harshly with them. Therefore, my rede is that we be wise and wary
and wait until his cup be indeed full."

The Abbot had opened his mouth to reply, when the consultation was
interrupted by a most unwonted buzz of excitement from among the monks
in the cloister below. Questions and answers in excited voices sounded
from one side of the ambulatory to the other. Sacrist and Abbot were
gazing at each other in amazement at such a breach of the discipline and
decorum of their well-trained flock, when there came a swift step upon
the stair, and a white-faced brother flung open the door and rushed into
the room.

"Father Abbot!" he cried. "Alas, al