he light of your recent mental
affliction, traces of which, unfortunately, have lingered to cause him
sorrow. And so he graciously prepares a place for you, _caro amigo_,
where rest and relief from the strain of teaching will do you much
good, and where life among simple and affectionate people will restore
you, he hopes, to soundness of mind."

The priest turned again to the Bishop in a complexity of appeal. The
soft speech of Wenceslas, so full of a double _entendu_, so markedly
in contrast with the Bishop's harsh but at least sincere tirade, left
no doubt in his mind that he was now the victim of a plot, whose
ramifications extended back to the confused circumstances of his early
life, and the doubtful purposes of his uncle and his influence upon
the sacerdotal directors in Rome. And he saw himself a helpless and
hopelessly entangled victim.

"Father!" In piteous appeal Jose held out his hands to the Bishop, who
had turned his back upon him and was busy with the papers on his
table.

"_Amigo_, the interview is ended," said Wenceslas quietly, stepping
between the priest and his superior.

Jose pushed wildly past the large form of Wenceslas and seized the
Bishop's hand.

"_Santa Maria!_" cried the petulant churchman. "Do you obey me, or no?
If not, then leave the Church--and spend your remaining days as a
hounded ex-priest and unfrocked apostate," he finished significantly.
"Go, prepare for your journey!"

Wenceslas slipped the letter and a few _pesos_ into the hand of the
smitten, bewildered Jose, and turning him to the door, gently urged
him out and closed it after him.

* * * * *

Just why the monastery gates had opened to him after two years'
deadening confinement, Jose had not been apprised. All he knew was
that his uncle had appeared with a papal appointment for him to the
University of Cartagena, and had urged his acceptance of it as the
only course likely to restore him both to health and position, and to
meet the deferred hopes of his sorrowing mother.

"Accept it, _sobrino mio_," the uncle had said. "Else, pass your
remaining days in confinement. There can be no refutation of the
charges against you. But, if these doors open again to you, think not
ever to sever your connection with the Church of Rome. For, if the
Rincon honor should prove inadequate to hold you to your oath, be
assured that Rincon justice will follow you until the grave wipes out
the sta