. Now I am Catholic, and I could
wish that my son should be Catholic also; these horrible errors, believe
me, are as dangerous to the soul as just now they happen to be fatal
to the body. May I hope that you, who were brought up but not born in
heresy, will consent to receive instruction in the right faith?"

"Certainly you may," answered Adrian, almost with enthusiasm. "I have
had enough of conventicles, psalm-singing, and the daily chance of being
burned; indeed, from the time when I could think for myself I always
wished to be a Catholic."

"Your words make me a happy man," answered Ramiro. "Allow me to unbolt
the door, I hear our hosts. Worthy Simon and Vrouw, I make you parties
to a solemn and joyful celebration. This young man is my son, and in
token of my fatherly love, which he has been pleased to desire, I now
take him in my arms and embrace him before you," and he suited the
action to the word.

But Black Meg, watching his face in astonishment from over Adrian's
shoulder, saw its one bright eye suddenly become eclipsed. Could it be
that the noble Master had winked?

CHAPTER XXIV

MARTHA PREACHES A SERMON AND TELLS A SECRET

Two days after his reconciliation with his father, Adrian was admitted
as a member of the Catholic Church. His preparation had been short;
indeed, it consisted of three interviews with a priest who was brought
to the house at night. The good man found in his pupil so excellent a
disposition and a mind so open to his teaching that, acting on a
hint given him by Ramiro, who, for reasons of his own not altogether
connected with religion, was really anxious to see his son a member of
the true and Catholic Church, he declared it unnecessary to prolong the
period of probation. Therefore, on the third day, as the dusk of evening
was closing, for in the present state of public feeling they dared not
go out while it was light, Adrian was taken to the baptistry of the
Groote Kerke. Here he made confession of his sins to a certain Abbe
known as Father Dominic, a simple ceremony, for although the list of
them which he had prepared was long, its hearing proved short. Thus all
his offences against his family, such as his betrayal of his stepfather,
were waived aside by the priest as matters of no account; indeed, crimes
of this nature, he discovered, to the sacerdotal eye wore the face of
virtue. Other misdoings also, such as a young man might have upon his
mind, were not thought weighty. What