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laying the supper； took pity on him； and told him to make himself
scarce； otherwise his master would give him a horsewhipping； just to
open the conversation； and asked him what made him so bold as to enter
a house where monks were hated more than a red leper。
〃Ah！〃 said Amador； 〃I am on my way to Tours； sent thither by my lord
abbot。 If the lord of Cande were not so bitter against the poor
servant of God； I should not be kept during such a deluge in the
courtyard； but in the house。 I hope that he will find mercy in his
hour of need。〃
The servant reported these words to his master； who at first wished to
have the monk thrown into the big trough of the castle among the other
filth。 But the lady of Cande； who had great authority over her spouse；
and was respected by him； because through her he expected a large
inheritance； and because she was a little tyrannical； reprimanded him；
saying； that it was possible this monk was a Christian； that in such
weather thieves would succour an officer of justice； that； besides； it
was necessary to treat him well to find out to what decision the
brethren of Turpenay had come with regard to the schism business； and
that her advice was put an end by kindness and not by force to the
difficulties arisen between the abbey and the domain of Cande； because
no lord since the coming of Christ had ever been stronger than the
Church； and that sooner or later the abbey would ruin the castle；
finally； she gave utterance to a thousand wise arguments； such as
ladies use in the height of the storms of life； when they have had
about enough of them。 Amador's face was so piteous； his appearance so
wretched； and so open to banter； that the lord； saddened by the
weather； conceived the idea of enjoying a joke at his expense；
tormenting him； playing tricks on him； and of giving him a lively
recollection of his reception at the chateau。 Then this gentleman； who
had secret relations with his wife's maid； sent this girl； who was
called Perrotte； to put an end to his ill…will towards the luckless
Amador。 As soon as the plot had been arranged between them； the wench；
who hated monks； in order to please her master； went to the monk； who
was standing under the pigsty； assuming a courteous demeanour in order
the better to please him； said
〃Holy father； the master of the house is ashamed to see a servant of
God out in the rain when there is room for him indoors； a good fire in
the chimney； and a table spread。 I invite you in his name and that of
the lady of the house to step in。〃
〃I thank the lady and lord； not for their hospitality which is a
Christian thing； but for having sent as an ambassador to me； a poor
sinner； an angel of such delicate beauty that I fancy I see the Virgin
over our altar。〃
Saying which； Amador raised his nose in the air； and saluted with the
two flakes of fire that sparkled in his bright eyes the pretty
maidservant； who thought him neither so ugly nor so foul； nor so
bestial； when； following Perrotte up the steps； Amador received on the
nose； cheeks； and other portions of his face a slash of the whip；
which made him see all the lights of the Magnificat； so well was the
dose administered by the Sieur de Cande； who； busy chastening his
greyhounds pretended not see the monk。 He requested Amador to pardon
him this accident； and ran after the dogs who had caused the mischief
to his guest。 The laughing servant； who knew what was coming； had
dexterously kept out of the way。 Noticing this business； Amador
suspected the relations of Perrotte and the chevalier； concerning whom
it is possible that the lasses of the valley had already whispered
something into his ear。 Of the people who were then in the room not
one made room for the man of God； who remained right in the draught
between the door and the window； where he stood freezing until the
moment when the Sieur de Cande； his wife； and his aged sister；
Mademoiselle de Cande； who had the charge of the young heiress of the
house； aged about sixteen years； came and sat in their chairs at the
head of the table； far from the common people； according to the old
custom usual among the lords of the period； much to their discredit。
The Sieur de Cande； paying no attention to the monk； let him sit at
the extreme end of the table； in a corner； where two mischievous lads
had orders to squeeze and elbow him。 Indeed these fellows worried his
feet； his body； and his arms like real torturers； poured white wine
into his goblet for water； in order to fuddle him； and the better to
amuse themselves with him； but they made him drink seven large jugfuls
without making belch； break wind； sweat or snort； which horrified them
exceedingly； especially as his eye remained as clear as crystal。
Encouraged； however； by a glance from their lord； they still kept
throwing； while bowing to him； gravy into his beard； and wiping it dry
in a manner to tear every hair of it out。 The varlet who served a
caudle baptised his head with it； and took care to let the burning
liquor trickle down poor Amador's backbone。 All this agony he endured
with meekness； because the spirit of God was in him； and also the hope
of finishing the litigation by holding out in the castle。
Nevertheless； the mischievous lot burst out into such roars of
laughter at the warm baptism given by the cook's lad to the soaked
monk； even the butler making jokes at his expense； that the lady of
Cande was compelled to notice what was going on at the end of the
table。 Then she perceived Amador； who had a look of sublime
resignation upon his face； and was endeavouring to get something out
of the big beef bones that had been put upon his pewter platter。 At
this moment the poor monk； who had administered a dexterous blow of
the knife to a big ugly bone； took it into his hairy hands； snapped it
in two； sucked the warm marrow out of it； and found it good。
〃Truly；〃 said she to herself； 〃God has put great strength into this
monk！〃
At the same time she seriously forbade the pages； servants； and others
to torment the poor man； to whom out of mockery they had just given
some rotten apples and maggoty nuts。 He； perceiving that the old lady
and her charge； the lady and the servants had seen him manoeuvring the
bone； pushed backed his sleeve； showed the powerful muscles of his
arm； placed nuts near his wrist on the bifurcation of the veins； and
crushed them one by one by pressing them with the palm of his hand so
vigorously that they appeared like ripe medlars。 He also crunched them
between his teeth； white as the teeth of a dog； husk； shell； fruit；
and all； of which he made in a second a mash which he swallowed like
honey。 He crushed them between two fingers； which he used like
scissors to cut them in two without a moment's hesitation。
You may be sure that the women were silent； that the men believed the
devil to be in the monk； and had it not been for his wife and the
darkness of the night； the Sieur de Cand