the
rhyming prayer to St. Pancras.

The Prior handed it to the Commissioner, who took it, and stood there a
moment weighing it in his hand.

"A hammer," he said.

One of the secretaries rose, and drew from beneath the table a sheet of
metal and a sharp hammer; he handed both to Dr. Petre.

Chris watched, fascinated with something very like terror, his throat
contracted in a sudden spasm, as he saw the Commissioner place the metal
in the solid table before him, and then, holding the seal sideways, lift
the hammer in his right hand.

Then blow after blow began to echo in the rafters overhead.

CHAPTER V

THE SINKING SHIP

Dr. Petre had come and gone, and to all appearance the priory was as
before. He had not taken a jewel or a fragment of stuff; he had
congratulated the sacristan on the beauty and order of his treasures,
and had bidden him guard them carefully, for that there were knaves
abroad who professed themselves as authorised by the King to seize
monastic possessions, which they sold for their own profit. The offices
continued to be sung day and night, and the masses every morning; and
the poor were fed regularly at the gate.

But across the corporate life had passed a subtle change, analogous to
that which comes to the body of a man. Legal death had taken place
already; the unity of life and consciousness existed no more; the seal
was defaced; they could no longer sign a document except as individuals.
Now the _rigor mortis_ would set in little by little until somatic death
too had been consummated, and the units which had made up the organism
had ceased to bear any relation one to the other.

But until after Christmas there was no further development; and the
Feast was observed as usual, and with the full complement of monks. At
the midnight mass there was a larger congregation than for many months,
and the confessions and communions also slightly increased. It was a
symptom, as Chris very plainly perceived, of the manner in which the
shadow of the King reached even to the remotest details of the life of
the country. The priory was now, as it were, enveloped in the royal
protection, and the people responded accordingly.

There had come no hint from headquarters as to the ultimate fate of the
house; and some even began to hope that the half-promise of a
re-foundation would be fulfilled. Neither had any mark of disapproval
arrived as to the refusal to sign on the part of the two monks; but
a