im outline of Father
Adrian standing by his side.

"So you have come, Paul de Vaux, and in good time! It is well!"

"I am here!" Paul answered shortly. "If what you have to say to me
will take long, come up to the house. It is dark and cold, and there
is a storm rising."

The priest shook his head. "I have no wish to find shelter under the
roof of Vaux Abbey," he said coldly. "You are well protected against
the weather, and so am I. Let us stay here!"

Paul strove to look into his face, but the darkness baffled him. He
could only see its outline, nothing of his expression. "As you will,"
he answered. "Speak! I am ready."

"I have dealt in no idle threats, Paul de Vaux," was the stern answer.
"I gave you a chance, and you have thrown it away. Perhaps I did ill
ever to offer it to you. But, at any rate, remember this: it is no
idle vengeance which I am dealing out to you this night; it is our
holy and despoiled Church calling for justice. I speak in her name!"

There was a moment's silence. Paul knew by his companion's bowed
head and laboured utterance that he was suffering from some sort
of emotion. But the darkness hid from him the workings of his pale
features. When he spoke, his voice was low and solemn.

"Paul de Vaux, turn back in your mind to another night such as this,
when the thunder of sea and wind shook the air, and the anger of God
seemed fallen upon the earth. On that night your father lay dying in
the island monastery of Cruta; and while you were risking your life in
the storm to reach him, I knelt by his side praying for his soul, that
it might not sink down amongst the damned in hell. He was a brave man,
but with the icy hand of death closing around him fear touched his
heart. It was no craven fear! He lay there still and quiet, but his
heart was troubled. In the midst of my prayers he stopped me, and took
the crucifix into his own hand.

"'Father,' he said, 'I have no faith in dying repentances. I have
scouted religion all my life, and on my deathbed I will not cry for
comfort to a Divinity which is a myth to me. Yet, as man to man,
listen while I tell you a secret; and when I have finished, do you
pray for me.'

"Shall I go on, Paul de Vaux? Shall I tell you all that your father's
dying lips faltered out to me?"

"All! every word! Keep nothing back!" Paul spoke quickly, almost
feverishly. He knew a little, but something told him that this priest
knew more. He began dimly to suspect the natu