told me, sir, that this was the King's house now;
and that I had no business here."

Chris smiled again.

"I know we are watched," he said, "the servants are questioned each time
they set foot outside."

Mr. Morris pursed his lips.

"How long shall you be here, sir?" he asked.

"Until we are turned out," said Chris.

* * * * *

It was true, as he had said, that the house was watched. Ever since the
last monk had left there had been a man or two at the gate, another
outside the church-door that opened towards the town; and another yet
again beyond the stream to the south of the priory-buildings. Dom
Anthony had told him what it meant. It was that the authorities had no
objection to the two monks keeping the place until it could be dealt
with, but were determined that nothing should pass out. It had not been
worthwhile to send in a caretaker, for all the valuables had been
removed either by the Visitors or by the Prior when he went at night.
There were only two sets of second-best altar vessels left, and a few
other comparatively worthless utensils for the use of the church and
kitchen. The great relics and the jewelled treasures had gone long
before. Chris had wondered a little at the house being disregarded for
so long; but the other monk had reminded him that such things as lead
and brass and bells were beyond the power of two men to move, and could
keep very well until other more pressing business had been despatched
elsewhere.

Mr. Morris gave him news of his father. It had not been the true fever
after all, and he would soon be here; in at any rate a week or two. As
regarded other news, there was no tidings of Mr. Ralph except that he
was very busy. Mistress Margaret was at home; no notice seemed to have
been taken of her when she had been turned out with the rest at the
dissolution of her convent.

It was very pleasant to see that familiar face about the cloister and
refectory; or now and again, when work was done, looking up from beyond
the screen as the monks came in by the sacristy door. Once or twice on
dark evenings when terror began to push through the rampart of the will
that Chris had raised up, it was reassuring too to know that Morris was
there, for he bore with him, as old servants do, an atmosphere of home
and security, and he carried himself as well with a wonderful
naturalness, as if the relief of beleaguered monks were as ordinary a
duty as the cleaning of p