o, 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