astery, were conducted to a great
wainscoted hall, where a pulpit projecting from the wall, and some
defaced emblematic ornaments, showed that this had once been the
refectory, though guard-room appliances now occupied it. The man who had
shown them in left them, saying he would acquaint Captain Falconnet with
their arrival, and just then a sound of singing drew both brothers to
the window. It looked out on what had once been the quadrangle, bounded
on three sides by the church, the refectory, and the monk's lodgings,
the cloistered arcade running round all these. The fourth side was
skirted by the river, which was, however, concealed by an embankment,
raised, no doubt, to supply the place of the wall, which had been
unnecessary to the peaceful original inhabitants. What attracted
Berenger's eyes was, however, a group in the cloister, consisting of
a few drooping figures, some of men in steel caps, others of veiled,
shrouded women, and strange, mingled feelings swept over him as he
caught the notes of the psalm sung over the open grave--

'Si qu'en paix et seurte bonne
Coucherai et reposerai--
Car, Seigneur, ta bonte tout ordonne
Et elle seule espoir donne
Que seur et sain regnant serai.'

'Listen, Philip,' he said, with moistening eyes; then as they ended, 'It
is the 4th Psalm: "I lay me down in peace and take my rest." Eustacie
and I used to sing it to my father. It was well done in these mourners
to sing it over him whom they are laying down to take his rest while the
enemy are at the gates. See, the poor wife still kneels while the rest
disperse; how dejected and utterly desolate she looks.'

He was so intently watching her as not to perceive the entrance of a
tall, grizzled old man in a steel cap, evidently the commander of the
garrison. There was the brief welcome of danger's hour--the briefer,
because Captain Falconnet was extremely deaf, and, taking it for granted
that the new-comers were gentlemen of the Duke's, proceeded to appoint
them their posts without further question. Berenger had intended to
pursue his journey to Quinet without delay, but the intelligence that
the enemy were on the southern as well as the northern side of the river
rendered this impossible; and besides, in defending this key of Guyenne
against Narcisse, he was also defending Eustacie.

The state of affairs was soon made known to him. The old monastery,
coveri