the brethren； glancing up； should put on an even meeker carriage
and more demure expression as they saw the watchful face in the
window above them。
A knock at the door of his studio recalled the Abbot to his
immediate duties； and he returned to his desk。 Already he had
spoken with his cellarer and prior； almoner； chaplain and lector；
but now in the tall and gaunt monk who obeyed his summons to enter
he recognized the most important and also the most importunate of
his agents； Brother Samuel the sacrist； whose office；
corresponding to that of the layman's bailiff； placed the material
interests of the monastery and its dealings with the outer world
entirely under his control； subject only to the check of the
Abbot。 Brother Samuel was a gnarled and stringy old monk whose
stern and sharp…featured face reflected no light from above but
only that sordid workaday world toward which it was forever
turned。 A huge book of accounts was tucked under one of his arms；
while a great bunch of keys hung from the other hand； a badge of
his office； and also on occasion of impatience a weapon of
offense； as many a scarred head among rustics and lay brothers
could testify。
The Abbot sighed wearily； for he suffered much at the hands of his
strenuous agent。 〃Well； Brother Samuel； what is your will？〃 he
asked。
〃Holy father； I have to report that I have sold the wool to Master
Baldwin of Winchester at two shillings a bale more than it fetched
last year； for the murrain among the sheep has raised the price。〃
〃You have done well； brother。〃
〃I have also to tell you that I have distrained Wat the warrener
from his cottage； for his Christmas rent is still unpaid； nor the
hen…rents of last year。〃
〃He has a wife and four children； brother。〃 He was a good； easy
man； the Abbot； though liable to be overborne by his sterner
subordinate。
〃It is true； holy father； but if I should pass him； then how am I
to ask the rent of the foresters of Puttenham； or the hinds in the
village？ Such a thing spreads from house to house； and where then
is the wealth of Waverley？〃
〃What else； Brother Samuel？〃
〃There is the matter of the fish…ponds。〃
The Abbot's face brightened。 It was a subject upon which he was
an authority。 If the rule of his Order had robbed him of the
softer joys of life； he had the keener； zest for those which
remained。
〃How have the char prospered； brother？〃
〃They have done well； holy father； but the carp have died in the
Abbot's pond。〃
〃Carp prosper only upon a gravel bottom。 They must be put in also
in their due proportion； three milters to one spawner； brother
sacrist； and the spot must be free from wind； stony and sandy； an
ell deep； with willows and grass upon the banks。 Mud for tench；
brother； gravel for carp。〃
The sacrist leaned forward with the face of one who bears tidings
of woe。 〃There are pike in the Abbot's pond；〃 said he。
〃Pike！〃 cried the Abbot in horror。 〃As well shut up a wolf in our
sheepfold。 How came a pike in the pond？ There were no pike last
year； and a pike does not fall with the rain nor rise in the
springs。 The pond must be drained； or we shall spend next Lent
upon stockfish； and have the brethren down with the great sickness
ere Easter Sunday has come to absolve us from our abstinence。〃
〃The pond shall be drained； holy father； I have already ordered
it。 Then we shall plant pot…herbs on the mud bottom； and after we
have gathered them in； return the fish and water once more from
the lower pond； so that they may fatten among the rich stubble。〃
〃Good！〃 cried the Abbot。 〃I would have three fish…stews in every
well…ordered house … one dry for herbs； one shallow for the fry
and the yearlings； and one deep for the breeders and the
tablefish。 But still； I have not heard you say how the pike came
in the Abbot's pond。〃
A spasm of anger passed over the fierce face of the sacrist； and
his keys rattled as his bony hand clasped them more tightly。
〃Young Nigel Loring！〃 said he。 〃He swore that he would do us
scathe； and in this way he has done it。〃
〃How know you this？〃
〃Six weeks ago he was seen day by day fishing for pike at the
great Lake of Frensham。 Twice at night he has been met with a
bundle of straw under his arm on the Hankley Down。 Well； I wot
that the straw was wet and that a live pike lay within it。〃
The Abbot shook his head。 〃I have heard much of this youth's wild
ways； but now indeed he has passed all bounds if what you say be
truth。 It was bad enough when it was said that he slew the King's
deer in Woolmer Chase； or broke the head of Hobbs the chapman； so
that he lay for seven days betwixt life and death in our
infirmary； saved only by Brother Peter's skill in the pharmacies
of herbs； but to put pike in the Abbot's pond…why should he play
such a devil's prank？〃
〃Because he hates the House of Waverley； holy father； because he
swears that we hold his father's land。〃
〃In which there is surely some truth。〃
〃But； holy father； we hold no more than the law has allowed。〃
〃True； brother； and yet between ourselves； we may admit that the
heavier purse may weigh down the scales of Justice。 When I have
passed the old house and have seen that aged woman with her
ruddled cheeks and her baleful eyes look the curses she dare not
speak； I have many a time wished that we had other neighbors。〃
〃That we can soon bring about； holy father。 Indeed； it is of it
that I wished to speak to you。 Surely it is not hard for us to
drive them from the country…side。 There are thirty years' claims
of escuage unsettled； and there is Sergeant Wilkins； the lawyer of
Guildford； whom I will warrant to draw up such arrears of dues and
rents and issues of hidage and fodder…corn that these folk； who
are as beggarly as they are proud； will have to sell the roof…tree
over them ere they can meet them。 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； alas！ Brother John is dead； and
the holy subprior is dead； and the Devil is loose in the five…
virgate field！〃
III。 THE YELLOW HORSE OF CROOKSBURY
In those simple times there was a great wonder and mystery in
life。 Man walked in fear and solemnity； with Heaven very close
above his head； and Hell below his very feet。 God's visible hand
was everywhere； in the rainbow and the comet； in the thunder and
the wind。 The Devil too raged openly upon the earth； he skulked
behind the hedge…rows in the gloaming； he laughed loudly in the
night…time； he clawed the dying sinner； pounced on the unbaptized
babe； and twisted the limbs of the epileptic。 A foul fiend slunk
ever by a man's side and whispered villainies in his ear； while
above him there hovered an angel of grace who pointed to the steep
and narrow track。 How could one doubt these