ish lad."

"Most certainly: if we cannot save him from the consequences of his
rash appeal to the sword, we will yet save him from the cord, or
worse, the stake, which might be thought the not inappropriate
penalty of the destruction of two successive houses of God by
fire."

"The stake! it is too horrible to think of!" said the monk; "thank
God I have not sought thee in vain. Forgive me, my lord, but the
lad is very dear to me."

"Nor is my own interest much less keen in him," said Geoffrey. "I
first met him at Senlac, where he sought his father's corpse amidst
the slain, and since that time have watched his tragic career not
without grief."

"But one question remains," spake Lanfranc. "The documents will be
disputed: how shall we prove them genuine?"

"There is much internal evidence; but may not some of the witnesses
of the crimes be living? For instance, the Jew, Abraham of Toledo,
he who sold the poisons to Hugo?" said Geoffrey.

"He shall be sought for," replied Lanfranc. "Meanwhile, Father
Kenelm, thou art my guest, and I must at once commend you to the
chamberlain, who will supply all your wants. You need food and
rest."

Bowing humbly--his heart full of gratitude--the good old
Benedictine followed the chamberlain, who appeared at the summons
of the primate, to more comfortable lodgings and better fare than
he had known for years.

CHAPTER XXII. THE CHAPTER HOUSE OF ABINGDON.

On the morrow of Michaelmas, in the year of grace 1071, an imposing
group of warriors and ecclesiastics was gathered in the chapter
house of the ancient Abbey of Abingdon.

The chamber in question was of rectangular form, but terminated at
the eastern end in an apse, where, beneath a column with radiating
arches, was the throne of the Lord Abbot.

A stone seat encompassed the other three sides of the building,
cushions interposing, however, between the person and the bare
stone beneath, as was meet.

The walls were arcaded, so as to form stalls, and in the arcades
were pictures of the Saints of the order, in glowing colours--St.
Benedict occupying the place of honour. Nor was St. Dunstan, the
most noted of English Benedictines, unrepresented.

A light burned perpetually in the midst of this chamber, framed so
as to image a tongue of fire, emblem of Him, whose inspiration was
sought at the gatherings of the chapter for deliberation.

Here novices were admitted and monastic punishment administered,
while penitentia