a little Christian charity.

"Because, my lord," replied the priest, "all rights are linked together,
like the part of a suit of armor, and if one fail, the whole falls to
pieces. If this girl were taken from us, against our will, and the usage
were not observed, soon your subjects would deprive you of your crown,
and great seditions would arise in all parts, to the end of abolishing
the tithes and taxes which press so heavily upon the people."

The king was silenced. Every one was anxious to learn the end of this
adventure. So great was the curiosity, that several lords wagered that
the goldsmith would abandon his suit, while the ladies took the opposite
side. The goldsmith having complained with tears to the queen that the
monks had deprived him of the sight of his beloved, she thought it
detestable and oppressive. Whereupon, pursuant to her command, the
goldsmith was allowed to go daily to the parlor of the abbey, where he
saw Tiennette; but always in the company of an aged monk, and attired in
true magnificence, like a lady. It was with great difficulty that he
persuaded her to accept the sacrifice he was compelled to make of his
liberty, but she finally consented.

When the city was made acquainted with the submission of the goldsmith,
who, for the love of his lady, abandoned his fortune and his liberty,
every one was anxious to see him. The ladies of the court encumbered
themselves with jewels they did not need, to make a pretext for talking
with him. But if some of them approached Tiennette in beauty, none
possessed her heart. At last, at the approach of the hour of servitude
and love, Anseau melted all his gold into a royal crown, which he inlaid
with all his pearls and diamonds; then coming secretly to the queen, he
gave it into her hands, saying:

"My lady, I know not in whose hands to trust my faith and fortune but
yours. To-morrow everything found in my house will become the property
of those accursed monks, who have no pity on me. Deign, then, to take
care of this. It is a poor return for the pleasure I enjoyed by your
means, of seeing her I love, since no treasure is worth one of her
glances. I know not what will become of me--but if, one day, my children
become free, I have a faith in your generosity as a woman and a queen."

"Well said, good man," replied the queen. "The abbey may one day have
need of my assistance, and then I will remember this."

There was an immense crowd in the abbey church at