if struck by a sledge-hammer.

"See, my lord, what a serf you will have, and how of an artificer of
divine things you will make a draught-horse."

"My son," replied the abbot, calmly, "you have wrongfully broken mine
oaken chair and lightly judged my heart. This girl belongs to the abbey,
and not to me. I am the faithful administrator of the rights and usages
of this glorious monastery. Although I may, indeed, liberate this girl
and her heirs, I owe an account to God and to the abbey. Now, since
there has been here an altar, serfs and monks, id est, from time
immemorial, never has there been an instance of a burgess becoming the
property of the abbey by marriage with a serf. Hence, need there is of
exercising this right, that it may not be lost, effete and obsolete, and
fall into desuetude, the which would occasion troubles manifold. And
this is of greater advantage for the state and for the abbey than your
boxes, however beautiful they may be, seeing that we have a fund which
will enable us to purchase jewels and bravery, and that no money can
establish customs and laws. I appeal to my lord, the king's chamberlain,
who is witness of the pains infinite our sovereign taketh each day to do
battle for the establishment of his ordinances."

"This is to shut my mouth," said the chamberlain.

The goldsmith, who was no great clerk, remained silent and pensive.
Hereupon came Tiennette, clad in glorious apparel, wearing a robe of
white wool, with her hair tastefully dressed, and, withal, so royally
beautiful, that the goldsmith was petrified with ecstasy, and the
chamberlain confessed that he had never seen so perfect a creature.
Then, thinking that there was too great danger to the goldsmith in this