glad," said Eugene; "it is much better in some ways. But
he must have gone through another struggle, poor fellow!"

"I doubt it," said Ayre.

"Anyhow, it's rather a score for those chaps," remarked Rickmansworth.
"He's a good fish to land."

"Yes, it will make a bit of a sensation," assented Ayre. "We'll see what
the Bishop says when he comes to turn Eugene off. By the way, is it
public property?"

"It will be in the papers, I expect, to-morrow. I wonder what they'll
say!"

"Everything but the truth."

"By Jove, I hope so. And we alone know the secret history!"

"Yes," said Ayre; "and you, Rick, will have to sit silent and hear the
enemy triumph."

Lord Rickmansworth did not think it worth while to repudiate the _odium
theologicum_ imputed to him. Probably he knew he was in reality above
the suspicion of caring for such things.

"Shall you tell Claudia?" Ayre asked Eugene, as they went upstairs.

"Yes; I shall show her his letter. I think I ought, don't you?"

"Perhaps; will you show it me?"

"Yes; in fact he asks me to give you the news, as he is too occupied to
write to you. The note is quite short, and, I think, studiously
reserved."

He gave it to Ayre, who read it silently. It ran:

"DEAR EUGENE:

"A line to wish Lady Claudia and yourself all happiness and joy. Do
not let your joy be shadowed by over-kind thoughts of me. I am my
own man again. You will see soon by the papers that I have taken
the important step of being received into the Catholic Church. I
need not trouble you with an argument. I think I have done well,
and hope to find there work for my hands to do. Pray give this news
to Ayre, and with it my most warm and friendly remembrances. I
would write but for my stress of work. He was a friend to me in my
need. They are sending me to Rome for a time; after that I hope I
shall come to England, and renew my friendships. Good-by, old
fellow, till then. I long for {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ETA WITH
PERISPOMENI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER
TAU~}{~GREEK KORONIS~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK
SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER
UPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER PHI~}{~GREEK
SMALL LETTER RHO~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER
STIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON WITH DASIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER