ernoon Percy received a visitor.

There was nothing exceptional about him; and Percy, as he came
downstairs in his walking-dress and looked at him in the light from the
tall parlour-window, came to no conclusion at all as to his business and
person, except that he was not a Catholic.

"You wished to see me," said the priest, indicating a chair.

"I fear I must not stop long."

"I shall not keep you long," said the stranger eagerly. "My business is
done in five minutes."

Percy waited with his eyes cast down.

"A--a certain person has sent me to you. She was a Catholic once; she
wishes to return to the Church."

Percy made a little movement with his head. It was a message he did not
very often receive in these days.

"You will come, sir, will you not? You will promise me?"

The man seemed greatly agitated; his sallow face showed a little shining
with sweat, and his eyes were piteous.

"Of course I will come," said Percy, smiling.

"Yes, sir; but you do not know who she is. It--it would make a great
stir, sir, if it was known. It must not be known, sir; you will promise
me that, too?"

"I must not make any promise of that kind," said the priest gently. "I
do not know the circumstances yet."

The stranger licked his lips nervously.

"Well, sir," he said hastily, "you will say nothing till you have seen
her? You can promise me that."

"Oh! certainly," said the priest.

"Well, sir, you had better not know my name. It--it may make it easier
for you and for me. And--and, if you please, sir, the lady is ill; you
must come to-day, if you please, but not until the evening. Will
twenty-two o'clock be convenient, sir?"

"Where is it?" asked Percy abruptly.

"It--it is near Croydon junction. I will write down the address
presently. And you will not come until twenty-two o'clock, sir?"

"Why not now?"

"Because the--the others may be there. They will be away then; I know
that."

This was rather suspicious, Percy thought: discreditable plots had been
known before. But he could not refuse outright.

"Why does she not send for her parish-priest?" he asked.

"She she does not know who he is, sir; she saw you once in the
Cathedral, sir, and asked you for your name. Do you remember, sir?--an
old lady?"

Percy did dimly remember something of the kind a month or two before;
but he could not be certain, and said so.

"Well, sir, you will come, will you not?"

"I must communicate with Father Dolan," said the