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with precious stones and unique of its kindpromised him assistance；
had a horse saddled for himself； and a hack for the silversmith； with
whom he set out for the abbey； and asked to see the abbot； who was
Monseigneur Hugon de Sennecterre； aged ninety…three。 Being come into
the room with the silversmith； waiting nervously to receive his
sentence； the chamberlain begged the abbot to sell him in advance a
thing which was easy for him to sell； and which would be pleasant to
him。
To which the abbot replied； looking at the chamberlain
〃That the canons inhibited and forbade him thus to engage his word。〃
〃Behold； my dear father；〃 said the chamberlain； 〃the jeweller of the
Court who has conceived a great love for a bondswoman belonging to
your abbey； and I request you； in consideration of my obliging you in
any such desire as you may wish to see accomplished； to emancipate
this maid。〃
〃Which is she？〃 asked the abbot of the citizen。
〃Her name is Tiennette；〃 answered the silversmith； timidly。
〃Ho！ ho！〃 said the good old Hugon； smiling。 〃The angler has caught us
a good fish！ This is a grave business； and I know not how to decide by
myself。〃
〃I know； my father； what those words mean；〃 said that chamberlain；
knitting his brows。
〃Fine sir；〃 said the abbot； 〃know you what this maid is worth？〃
The abbot ordered Tiennette to be fetched； telling his clerk to dress
her in her finest clothes； and to make her look as nice as possible。
〃Your love is in danger；〃 said that chamberlain to the silversmith；
pulling him on one side。 〃Dismiss this fantasy。 You can meet anywhere；
even at Court； with women of wealth； young and pretty； who would
willingly marry you。 For this； if need be； the king would assist you
by giving you some title； which in course of time would enable you to
found a good family。 Are you sufficiently well furnished with crowns
to become the founder of a noble line？〃
〃I know not； monseigneur；〃 replied Anseau。 〃I have put money by。〃
〃Then see if you cannot buy the manumission of this maid。 I know the
monks。 With them money does everything。〃
〃Monseigneur；〃 said the silversmith to the abbot； coming towards him；
〃you have the charge and office representing here below the goodness
of God； who is often clement towards us； and has infinite treasures of
mercy for our sorrows。 Now； I will remember you each evening and each
morning in my prayers； and never forget that I received my happiness
at your hands； if you aid me to gain this maid in lawful wedlock；
without keeping in servitude the children born of this union。 And for
this I will make you a receptacle for the Holy Eucharist； so
elaborate； so rich with gold； precious stones and winged angels； that
no other shall be like it in all Christendom。 It shall remain unique；
it shall dazzle your eyesight； and shall be so far the glory of your
altar； that the people of the towns and foreign nobles shall rush to
it； so magnificent shall it be。〃
〃My son；〃 replied the abbot 〃have you lost your senses？ If you are so
resolved to have this wench for a legal wife； your goods and your
person belong to the Chapter of the abbey。〃
〃Yes； monseigneur； I am passionately in love with this girl； and more
touched with her misery and her Christian heart than even with her
perfections； but I am；〃 said he； with tears in his eyes； 〃still more
astonished at your harshness； and I say it although I know that my
fate is in your hands。 Yes； monseigneur； I know the law； and if my
goods fall to your domain； if I become a bondsman； if I lose my house
and my citizenship； I will still keep that engine； gained by my
labours and my studies； on which lies there；〃 cried he； striking his
forehead 〃in a place of which no one； save God； can be lord but
myself。 And your whole abbey could not pay for the special creations
which proceed therefrom。 You may have my body； my wife； my children；
but nothing shall get you my engine； nay； not even torture； seeing
that I am stronger than iron is hard； and more patient than sorrow is
great。〃
So saying； the silversmith； enraged by the calmness of the abbot； who
seemed resolved to acquire for the abbey the good man's doubloons；
brought down his fist upon an oaken chair and shivered it into
fragments； for it split as under the blow of a mace。
〃Behold； monseigneur； what kind of servant you will have； and of an
artificer of things divine you will make a mere cart…horse。〃
〃My son；〃 replied the abbot； 〃you have wrongfully broken my chair； and
lightly judged my mind。 This wench belongs to the abbey and not to me。
I am the faithful servant of the rights and customs of this glorious
monastery； although I might grant this woman license to bear free
children； I am responsible for this to God and to the abbey。 Now；
since there was here an altar； bondsmen and monks； /id est/； from time
immemorial； there has never occurred the case of a citizen becoming
the property of the abbey by marriage with a bondswoman。 Now；
therefore； is there need to exercise the right； and to make use of it
so that it would not be lost； weakened； worn out； or fallen into
disuse； which would occasion a thousand difficulties。 And this is of
higher advantage to the State and to the abbey than your stones；
however beautiful they be； seeing that we have treasure wherewith to
buy rare jewels； and that no treasure can establish customs and laws。
I call upon the king's chamberlain to bear witness to the infinite
pains which his majesty takes every day to fight for the establishment
of his orders。〃
〃That is to close my mouth；〃 said the chamberlain。
The silversmith； who was not a great scholar； remained thoughtful。
Then came Tiennette； clean as a new pin； her hair raised up； dressed
in a robe of white wool with a blue sash； with tiny shoes and white
stockings； in fact； so royally beautiful； so noble in her bearing was
she； that the silversmith was petrified with ecstasy； and the
chamberlain confessed he had never seen so perfect a creature。
Thinking there was too much danger in this sight for the poor
jeweller； he led him into the town； and begged him to think no further
of the affair； since the abbey was not likely to liberate so good a
bait for the citizens and nobles of the Parisian stream。 In fact； the
Chapter let the poor lover know that if he married this girl he must
resolve to yield up his goods and his house to the abbey； consider
himself a bondsman； both he and the children of the aforesaid
marriage； although； by a special grace； the abbey would let him his
house on the condition of his giving an inventory of his furniture and
paying a yearly rent； and coming during eight days to live in a shed
adjoining the domain； thus performing an act of service。 The
silversmith； to whom everyone spoke of the cupidity of the monks； saw
clearly that the abbot would incommutably maintain this order； and his
soul was filled with despair。 At one time he determin