y, and demanded to see the abbot, who was then
Monseigneur Hugo de Senecterre, and was ninety-three years old. Being
come into the hall, with the goldsmith, who was trembling in expectation
of his doom, the chamberlain prayed the Abbot Hugo to grant him a favor
in advance, which could be easily done, and would do him pleasure.
Whereat, the wily abbot shook his head, and replied that it was
expressly forbidden by the canons to plight one's faith in this manner.

"The matter is this, then, my dear father," said the chamberlain. "The
goldsmith of the court, here, has conceived a great love for a girl
belonging to the abbey, and I charge you, as you would have me grant the
favors you may seek hereafter, to liberate this girl."

"Who is she?" asked the abbot of the burgess.

"She is named Tiennette," replied the goldsmith, timidly.

"Oh! ho!" said the good old Hugo, smiling. "Then the bait has brought us
a good fish. This in a grave case, and I cannot decide it alone."

"I know, father, what these words are worth," said the chamberlain,
frowning.

"Beau sire," replied the abbot, "do you know what the girl is worth?"

The abbot sent for Tiennette, telling his clerk to dress her in her best
clothes, and make her as brave as possible.

"Your love is in danger," said the chamberlain to the goldsmith, drawing
him one side. "Abandon this fancy; you will find everywhere, even at
court, young and pretty women who will willingly accept your hand, and
the king will help you to acquire an estate and title--you have gold
enough."

The goldsmith shook his head. "I have made my choice, and embarked on my
adventure," said he.

"Then you must purchase the manumission of this girl. I know the monks.
With them, money can accomplish everything."

"My lord," said the goldsmith to the abbot, turning towards him, "you
have it in charge and trust to represent here on earth the bounty of
Providence, which is always kind to us, and has infinite treasures of
mercy for our miseries. Now I will enshrine you, for the rest of my
days, each night and morning in my prayers, if you will aid me to obtain
this girl in marriage. And I will fashion you a box to enclose the holy
Eucharist, so cunningly wrought, and so enriched with gold and precious
stones, and figures of winged angels, that another such shall never be
in Christendom,--it shall remain unique, shall rejoice your eyes, and so
glorify your altar that the people of the city, foreign lord