d on his first coming. He awoke once at the sound of the
great bell from the tower calling the monks to the night-office, and
smiled at the fantastic folly of it all. His work during the last month
had erased the last remnants of superstitious fear, and to him now more
than ever the Religious Houses were but noisy rookeries, clamant with
bells and chanting, and foul with the refuse of idleness. The sooner
they were silenced and purged the better.

He did not trouble to go to mass in the morning, but lay awake in the
white-washed room, hearing footsteps and voices below, and watching the
morning light brighten on the wall. He found himself wondering once or
twice what Chris was doing, and how he felt; he did not rise till one of
his men looked in to tell him that Dr. Layton would be ready for him in
half-an-hour, if he pleased.

The chapter-house was a strange sight as he entered it from the
cloister. It was a high oblong chamber some fifty feet long, with arched
roof like a chapel, and a paved floor. On a dozen stones or so were cut
inscriptions recording the presence of bodies entombed below, among them
those of Earl William de Warenne and Gundrada, his wife, founders of the
priory five centuries ago. Ralph caught sight of the names as he strode
through the silent monks at the door and entered the chamber, talking
loudly with his fellow-Visitor. The tall vaulted room looked bare and
severe; the seats ran round it, raised on a step, and before the Prior's
chair beneath the crucifix stood a large table covered with papers.
Beneath it, and emerging on to the floor lay a great heap of vestments
and precious things which Dr. Layton had ordered to be piled there for
his inspection, and on the table itself for greater dignity burned two
tapers in massive silver candlesticks.

"Sit here, Mr. Torridon," said the priest, himself taking the Prior's
chair, "we represent the supreme head of the Church of England now, you
must remember."

And he smiled at the other with a solemn joy.

He glanced over his papers, settled himself judicially, and then signed
to one of his men to call the monks in. His two secretaries seated
themselves at either end of the table that stood before their master.

Then the two lines began to file in, in reverse order, as the doctor had
commanded; black silent figures with bowed heads buried in their hoods,
and their hands invisible in the great sleeves of their cowls.

Ralph ran his eyes over them;