see straight down the opening of the steep street, across the lower
roofs below, to where the great pile of the Priory church less than
half-a-mile away soared up in the sunlight against the water-meadows
where the Ouse ran to the south of the town.

The street was very empty below him, for every human being that could
do so had gone down to the sacking of the priory. There might be
pickings, scraps gathered from the hoards that the monks were supposed
to have gathered; there would probably be an auction; and there would
certainly be plenty of excitement and pleasure.

Chris was himself almost numb to sensation. The coolness that had
condensed round his soul last night had hardened into ice; he scarcely
realised what was going on, or how great was the catastrophe into which
his life was plunged. There lay the roofs before him--he ran his eye
from the west tower past the high lantern to the delicate tracery of the
eastern apse and chapels--in the hands of the spoilers; and here he sat
dry-eyed and steady-mouthed looking down on it, as a man looks at a
wound not yet begun to smart.

It was piteously clear and still. Smoke was rising from a fire somewhere
behind the church, a noise as of metal on stone chinked steadily, and
the voices of men calling one to another sounded continually from the
enclosure. Now and again the tiny figure of a workman showed clear on
the roof, pick in hand; or leaning to call directions down to his
fellows beneath.

Dom Anthony looked in presently, breviary in hand, and knelt by Chris on
the window-step, watching too; but he spoke no word, glanced at the
white face and sunken eyes of the other, sighed once or twice, and went
out again.

The morning passed on and still Chris watched. By eleven o'clock the men
were gone from the roof; half an hour had passed, and no further figure
had appeared.

There were footsteps on the stairs; and Sir James came in.

He came straight across to his son and sat down by him. Chris looked at
him. The old man nodded.

"Yes, my son," he said, "they are at it. Nothing is to be left, but the
cloister and guest-house. The church is to be down in a week they say."

Chris looked at him dully.

"All?" he said.

"All the church, my son."

Sir James gave an account of what he had seen. He had made his way in
with Nicholas and a few other persons, into the court; but had not been
allowed to enter the cloister. There was a furnace being made ready in
the cal