and pass
his hands over the floor. Then he straightened himself, came down the
steps and went before Chris into the sacristy.

Under the lamp he stopped, and lifted what he carried to the light. It
was the little ivory crucifix that he had hung there a few weeks ago
when the last cross of precious metal had disappeared with the
Sub-Prior. It was cracked across the body of the figure now, and one of
the arms was detached at the shoulder and swung free on the nail through
the hand.

Dom Anthony looked at it, turned and looked at Chris; and without a word
the two passed out into the cloister and turned up the dormitory stairs.
To both of them it was a sign that the end was at hand.

* * * * *

On the following afternoon Mr. Morris ran in to Chris's carrel, and
found him putting the antiphonary and his implements up into a parcel.

"Master Christopher," he said, "Sir James and Sir Nicholas are come."

As he hurried out of the cloister he saw the horses standing there,
spent with fast travelling, and the two riders at their heads, with the
dust on their boots, and their clothes disordered. They remained
motionless as the monk came towards them; but he saw that his father's
face was working and that his eyes were wide and anxious.

"Thank God," said the old man softly. "I am in time. They are coming
to-night, Chris." But there was a questioning look on his face.

Chris looked at him.

"Will you take the horses?" said his father again. "Nick and I are
safe."

Chris still stared bewildered. Then he understood; and with
understanding came decision.

"No, father," he said.

The old man's face broke up into lines of emotion.

"Are you sure, my son?"

Chris nodded steadily.

"Then we will all be together," said Sir James; and he turned to lead
his horse to the stable.

* * * * *

There was a little council held in the guest-house a few minutes later.
Dom Anthony hurried to it, his habit splashed with whitewash, for he had
been cleaning the dormitory, and the four sat down together.

It seemed that Nicholas had ridden over from Great Keynes to Overfield
earlier in the afternoon, and had brought the news that a company of men
had passed through the village an hour before, and that one of them had
asked which turn to take to Lewes. Sir Nicholas had ridden after them
and enquired their business, and had gathered that they were bound for
the priory, an