ropped his hand and sat down. For one moment Ralph saw the
kneeling man lift that white face again, but the doctor was at him
instantly.

"Do not dare to rise, sir, till I give you leave," he roared. "You had
best be a penitent. Now tell me, sir, what you have to say. It shall not
be said that we condemned a man unheard. Eh! Mr. Torridon?"

Ralph nodded sharply, and glanced at Chris; but his brother was staring
at the Prior.

"Now then, sir," cried the doctor again.

"I entreat you, Master Layton--"

The Prior's voice was convulsed with terror as he cried this with
outstretched hands.

"Yes, sir, I will hear you."

"I entreat you, sir, not to tell his Grace. Indeed I am innocent"--his
voice rose thin and high in his panic--indeed, I did not know it was
treason that was preached."

"Did not know?" sneered the doctor, leaning forward over the table.
"Why, you know your Faith, man--"

"Master Layton, Master Layton; there be so many changes in these days--"

"Changes!" shouted the priest; "there be no changes, except of such
knaves as you, Master-Prior; it is the old Faith now as ever. Do you
dare to call his Grace a heretic? Must that too go down in the charges?"

"No, no, Master Layton," screamed the Prior, with his hands strained
forward and twitching fingers. "I did not mean that--Christ is my
witness!"

"Is it not the same Faith, sir?"

"Yes, Master Layton--yes--indeed, it is. But I did not know--how could I
know?"

"Then why are you Prior," cried the doctor with a dramatic gesture, "if
it is not to keep your subjects true and obedient? Do you mean to tell
me--?"

"I entreat you, sir, for the love of Mary, not to tell his Grace--"

"Bah!" shouted Dr. Layton, "you may keep your breath till you tell his
Grace that himself. There is enough of this." Again he rose, and swept
his eyes round the white-faced monks. "I am weary of this work. The
fellow has not a word to say--"

"Master Layton, Master Layton," cried the kneeling man once more,
lifting his hands on one of which gleamed the prelatical ring.

"Silence, sir," roared the doctor. "It is I who am speaking now. We have
had enough of this work. It seems that there be no true men left, except
in the world; these houses are rotten with crime. Is it not so, Master
Torridon?--rotten with crime! But of all the knaves that I did ever
meet, and they are many and strong ones, I do believe Master Prior, that
you are the worst. Here is my sentence, and see