ch in broad daylight, and nobody would dream of challenging
them. Now, if they are in the church at all, it is my belief that they
will be found behind this tapestry. You take that side, brother, and I
will take this. Just run your hand along the length of the tapestry;
and if they are lurking behind it, you will soon find them."

"Ay," grumbled the other, "and, as like as not, be slain by them for my
pains. I tell you, brother, that I like it not. No, they are not
here," he concluded, as he ran his hand along the tapestry in an
exceedingly perfunctory manner without discovering any sign of the
missing prisoners. "I am beginning to think, with you, Brother Jose,
that the rascals have escaped."

"Of course they have," agreed the first speaker. "No, they are not on
this side either. Ah!"--as a great bell began to toll somewhere
aloft--"there is the bell for Mass, thank heaven! and now this foolish
search will be brought to an end." Therewith the footsteps retired,
much to the relief of the concealed Englishmen, who were momentarily
dreading that it might occur to one or the other of the searchers to
turn up the tapestry and peep into the opening beneath and behind the
altar. But it did not--possibly neither of the worthy brothers was
particularly anxious to find himself suddenly face to face with a couple
of desperate Englishmen--and presently the sound of retreating footsteps
died away in the distance and all was still in the great church.

But not for long; the lurking pair had only time to dispose themselves a
little more comfortably on the hard marble pavement when other footsteps
were faintly heard, accompanied by the occasional scrape of a chair in
the distance, and the fugitives knew that a congregation was assembling.
Then the great bell ceased to toll, the organ once more poured forth
its sweet and solemn notes, a door opened, measured footsteps were heard
approaching, there was a slight momentary bustle as the brethren of the
Order filed in and took their places; and then the service began, and
the Englishmen, who were both lovers of music, enjoyed an hour of such
keen delight as they had not experienced for many a long day.

In due time the solemn service came to an end, the congregation retired,
there ensued an opening and closing of doors, the sounds of which echoed
and reverberated hollowly along the aisles and among the arches of the
sacred building, and then a great silence fell. For a time th