"By the mass, reverend father and brothers of the order of Holy Benedict, we waste our time. Were it not well to have this penitent before us, and to question him as to his purpose of showing his repentance?" he said.
In an evil moment the motion was carried, so to speak, and Fulke was invited to enter the chapter-house.
Unarmed and alone though he was, the monks began to tremble visibly as their grim visitor strode into the assemblage, and a silence fell on all the tongues so ready to wag but a few moments before.
The Robber Baron made obeisance to the abbot, who began by delivering a suitable homily, adorned with texts and quotations, on the special subject of the readiness of the Church to receive sinners back to her arms. It concluded with a broad hint that the abbey should be compensated for the harm done to her; but it was a guarded discourse, for the abbot could not tell how the dreaded tyrant might receive his suggestion.
The Robber Baron making his peace with the Church.
Fulke ignored it.
In a reply full of proper respect and deep humiliation, he brought forward the leading case of Henry II at Canterbury, and expressed his willingness to submit to like discipline as full and complete satisfaction for his crime.
He chose his words carefully. The discipline was to be complete satisfaction. There was no mistaking the drift of his meaning.
Feeling that they had indeed been foiled, the chapter requested the penitent to withdraw, and deliberated again.