The Iron Trevet or Jocelyn the Champion

ity of Beauvais, in the department of Beauvoisis. The tavern of Alison the Huffy-so nicknamed from her hot temper, although she was a good woman-was rapidly filling with arti

s well shaped. Black of hair, bright of eyes, white of teeth, and quick of hands, more than once since her widowhood, had Alison broken a bumper over the head of some customer, whom liquor had rendered too expressive in his admiration for her charms. According

t escaped in disorder from under his old woolen cap. He had traveled a long distance; his wooden shoes, shabby cloth leggings and patched smock-frock were covered with dust. He was noticeably tired; it was with difficulty that he moved his limbs with the support of a

ot know you. If you want to dr

ave none," answered William Caillet; "al

house," replied Alison;

ch a bad humor," put in one of the customers; "l

with a somber gesture and shaki

rom without, called: "Where is the hostess ... where is she ... a thousand bundles of demons! Is there no o

ed iron, but still usable, seemed not to press him any more than a coat of cloth. His coat of mail, newly patched in several places, fell half over his thigh-armor, made, like his greaves, of iron, the latter of which were hidden within the large traveling boots. From his shoulder-strap hung a long sword, from his belt a sharp dagger of the class called "mercy". His mace, which consisted of a thick cudgel an arm long, terminating in three little iron chains riveted to a ball seven or eight pounds heavy, hung from th

her maid and said in bitter-sweet voice: "Here I am, Sir. Hein! If ever you are c

seen too soon. As sure as your garter could serve you for a belt, the prettiest girl of Paris, wh

ing at once flattered by the compliments of the traveler, and proud of

nformed? Is there to be a passage of arm

ime. The tourney is to beg

ing his coat of mail to enable him to reach his leather purse, the rider took from it a piece of silver. Giving it to Alison, he said gaily: "Here is payment in advance for my score. I am none of your strollers, so frequent in these days, who pay their host with sword thrusts and by plunde

King, is an inveterate false-coiner? What times these are! We are

you will have overcome your modest blushes by the time your maid has shown me the way to the stabl

ly, she hastened to busy herself with the preparations for the meal, and in a short time spread upon one of the tabl

m, and kept his seat on a bench not far from the table at which presently Alison and the traveler took theirs. Back from the stable, t

u come from Paris? What fine s

ss, not the nobility. My name is Jocelyn. My father is a book-seller, and I am a

ining her hands in glad astonishm

often wounded, I have at least always rendered a Roland for my adversary's Oliver. I learned in Paris that there was to be a tourney here and thinking that, as usual, it would be followed

aven that sends you. There

le in my concerns. Let us leave Gog and Mago

nately, I have a process. I ad

pretty

the debt. We went before the seneschal. I maintained what I said; Simon maintained his side. There were no witnesses either for o

dy to be your champion a

ickedness the fellow is feared all over this c

e. I shall fight him as well for the sake of y

true that I lent Simon the Hirsute those twe

clients tell me. What is wanted is, not solid reasons, but rude blows with the sword, the lance or the mace. Thus, so long a

at thief of a Simon has been an archer. He is

. I have a quick and correct eye. Once on the arena, I size up my man, fall to, and decide on the spot whether to thrust or to cut. I have ever congratulated myself on this manner of pleading. You may re

three florins. It would not be paying too much for the pleasu

give me three florins and a smacking kiss

ch things ar

he devils, your forehead remains troubled. Why so? You needed a champion, and heaven-as you said-sen

yet my heart is heavy. I wan

process, or some unfaithful lov

sad and silent, whereupon s

render a service to a poor lad who is much to be pitied, and who also must h

self. What is

igneur, if it please him, is entitled to ... the first night of his female v

asants of the group, a butcher attached to the fief of the bishopric, had married that very morning a handsome girl of the parish. The bishop, in the exercise of his right, sent for the bride to take her to his bed. The serf answered the episcopal bailiff, charged with the mission: 'My wife is i

What a shoc

ishonor, her husband had kille

shook convulsively, raised his savage face and listened, while, tears streaming from her eyes, Alison cried: "Oh, poor wo

e men ar

dom, remain indifferent to such ignominy are per

not man, however coarse, however brutified, however craven he may be, fire up with jealousy the moment he loves? Is not love the only possession left to the serfs, the only solace in their misery? Blood and death! I grow sava

"your words tell the story of that poor Mazur

imself by dint of a violent effort, he resumed his seat, and lent increased attention to what was said by Alis

Mazurec?" he inquire

does the name

s given names. Do you know t

rs; his mother, who has long been

e came

ed her bread. Our neighbor the miller of the Gallion mill, took pity upon her. His own wif

seeming to interrogate his m

ustrious and of so good a character that the miller kept her as a servant. Then a misfortune happened. The Count of Beaumont declared war to the Sire of Nointel. That is now five years ago. The miller was compelled to follow his seigneur to war. During that time the

stess. I shall have to cut the

ken an interest in Mazurec. He was the sweetest and best child in the wor

e good the prom

expenses of his campaign against the seigneur of Beaumont. Mazurec took service under the new miller. Every Sunday, on his way to church, Mazurec stopped here to thank us for our kindness towards him. There is no more grateful heart than his. And now I'll tell you how his misfortune came about. Occasionally he was sent by the miller with bags of flour to the village of Cramoisy, about

o folks loved

other passionately. And

n. Unable, to keep back a tear that rolled down his emaciated cheeks,

bailiff of the Sire of Nointel in the absence of his master, also gave his consent. Everything was moving smoothl

ppy hopes to be destro

it the animal that furnished him with food, rather than to see his adored daughter dishonored by the Sire of Nointel. The day of the bethrothal Mazurec went to the castle to deliver to the bailiff the price of the bride's redemption. Unfortunately, the bailiff happened to be away. The bridegroom returned to Avelin

escape the disgrace, brides yield themselves to their intended hus

acquit himself honestly. After the mass, Mazurec returned to the castle, carrying the money in a purse suspended from his belt. On the road he met a knight who inquired for the way to Nointel; and, would you believe it,

d. The knights look upon them as mere feats

arrived at his manor that very morning from Paris, accompanied by several friends, happened to cross the corridor at the very time that Mazurec was imploring the bailiff's help. The Sire of Nointel, informed of the occurrence, asked, laughing, whether the bride was pretty. 'There is none pret

e thievish knight d

at-arms, shall forthwith proceed to the vicarage and conduct the bride here. According to my right, I shall spend the night with her. To-morrow morning she may be returned to that vassal. As to the charge of robbery, that he has the effrontery t

lant, as such he has the right to fight on horseback and in full armor

their serfs-'Jacques Bonhomme, my friend, I have two reasons for spending this night with your wife: first, because, as they say, she is quite comely; and second, because that will be the punishment for your insolence to charge one of my guests with larceny.' At these words Mazurec the Lambkin became Mazurec the Wolf. He threw himself furiously upon his

riously striking the table with his Herculean fist. "An end must b

blood! The torch and the axe will do their office"; and feeling a strange hand pressin

k by the sinister and desperate looks of the p

ther of Mazu

h! I regret to have been rude to you. Pardon me,

ith a frightful smile: "She will be now returned to

k that poor Mazurec is a prisoner at the castle, and that this morning, before ma

indignity?" cried Jocelyn, interrupting his

ure of exercising my right by judicial decree. It will be a good lesson to Jacques Bonhomme.' He thereupon had the bride taken to a cell, and lodged a complaint against her in the court of the seneschal at Beauvais. Seeing that the law recognizes the right of a seigneur over his female vassals, the court gave its decree accordingly. It is in the nam

. Then I shall take away my daughter ... She is to be returned to me this morning, and who knows but in nine months I may be the grandfather of a noble brat!" After a short pause the peasant resumed with a sinister and chilling smile: "Oh! If that child should live ... if it should

cry for vengeance! They cry for the de

small, savage and piercing eyes upon the champion. "If the time for action ar

llet, and clasped his hand. "The hour of justice and vengeance may sou

ame low voice. "Jacques Bonhomme is on his

ion," whispered Jocelyn in the ear of Caillet, without being hear

young man. Habituated by servitude to mistrust, he feared to be deceived by the promises of an unknown person. Suddenly the chimes of

e tavern trooped out precipitately, saying: "Let us hasten to the parvi

he 'amende honorable' of poo

sappeared. "I shall witness that sad ceremony because, for more reasons than one, the fate of Mazurec interests me. The tourney will not begin until afte

to prevent the judicial duel of poo

lords. But I hope I may be able to give Mazurec some good advice. I shall try

ded his steps towards th