before," said Father Nicholas.

"Methinks the world wags but slowly," said Master Aristoteles.

"Much too fast," was the oracular reply of Father Warner.

"The pace of the world depends mainly on our own wishes, I take it,"
said Father Nicholas. "He who would fain walk thinks the world is at a
gallop; while he who desires to gallop reckons the world but jogging at
a market-trot."

"There has been a great massacre of Jews in Spain," said Father Bruno,
speaking for the first time.

All the conversation was plainly audible to the girls in the next room.
When Father Bruno spoke, Belasez's head went up suddenly, and her work
stood still.

"Amen and Alleluia!" said Father Warner, who probably little suspected
that he was using Hebrew words to express his abhorrence of the Hebrews.

"Nay, my brother!" answered Father Bruno, gravely. "Shall we thank God
for the perdition of human souls?"

"Of course not,--of course not!" interposed Father Nicholas, quickly.
"I am sure our Brother Warner thanked God for the vindication of the
Divine honour."

"And is not the Divine honour more fully vindicated by far," demanded
Father Bruno, "when a soul is saved from destruction, than when it is
plunged therein?"

"Yes, yes, no doubt, no doubt!" eagerly assented Father Nicholas, who
seemed afraid of a _fracas_.

"Curs!" said Father Warner, contemptuously. "They all belong to their
father the Devil, and to him let them go. I would not give a farthing
for a Jew's soul in the market."

Belasez's eyes were like stars.

"Brother," said Father Bruno, so gravely that it was almost sadly, "our
Master was not of your way of thinking. He bade His apostles to begin
at Jerusalem when they preached the good tidings of His kingdom. Have
we done it?"

Master Aristoteles' "Ah!" might mean anything, as the hearer chose to
take it.

"Of course they did so. The Church was first at Jerusalem, before Saint
Peter transferred it to Rome," snapped Father Warner.

"Pardon me, my brother. I did not ask, Did they do so? I said, Have we
done so?" explained Bruno.

"How could we?" responded Father Nicholas in a perplexed tone. "I never
came across any of the evil race--holy Mary be my guard!--and if I had
done, I should have crossed over the road, lest they should cast a spell
on me."

Belasez's smile was one of contemptuous amusement.

"_Pure foy_! If I ever came across one, I should spit in his face!"
cried Warner.

"Two might play