d for the King's Grace.

"You must be patient," cried Dr. Layton, "and then no more taxes. You
can trust us, gentlemen, to do the King's work as it should be done."

As he passed in through the lamp-lit entrance he turned to Ralph again.

"You see, Mr. Torridon, we have the country behind us."

* * * * *

It was that evening that Ralph for the first time since the quarrel met
his brother face to face.

He was passing through the cloister on his way to Dr. Layton's room, and
came past the refectory door just as the monks were gathering for
supper. He glanced in as he went, and had a glimpse of the clean solemn
hall, lighted with candles along the panelling, the long bare tables
laid ready, the Prior's chair and table at the further end and the great
fresco over it. A lay brother or two in aprons were going about their
business silently, and three or four black figures, who had already
entered, stood motionless along the raised dais on which the tables
stood.

The monks had all stopped instantly as Ralph came among them, and had
lowered their hoods with their accustomed courtly deference to a guest;
and as he turned from his momentary pause at the refectory door in the
full blaze of light that shone from it, he met Chris face to face.

The young monk had come up that instant, not noticing who was there, and
his hood was still over his head. There was a second's pause, and then
he lifted his hand and threw the hood back in salutation; and as Ralph
bowed and passed on he had a moment's sight of that thin face and the
large grey eyes in which there was not the faintest sign of recognition.

Ralph's heart was hot with mingled emotion as he went up the cloister.
He was more disturbed by the sudden meeting, the act of courtesy, and
the cold steady eyes of this young fool of a brother than he cared to
recognise.

He saw no more of him, except in the distance among his fellows; and he
left the house the next day when the business was done.

* * * * *

Matters in the rest of England were going forward with the same
promptitude as in Sussex. Dr. Layton himself had visited the West
earlier in the autumn, and the other Visitors were busy in other parts
of the country. The report was current now that the resources of all the
Religious Houses were to be certainly confiscated, and that those of the
inmates who still persisted in their vocation would have to do so