the
blows.

"Do you know this hidden door, or whither it leads?"

"Methinks I can answer for myself and all my brothers," said the Prior.
"There are certain secret passages in the Abbey which none but our
ruler ever knows. Doubtless this is one of them."

"Beware, Sir Monk!" Raynor exclaimed, striding over and glaring down
upon him. "If you lie to aid your Abbot you shall hang instead of him."

The Prior crossed himself devoutly. "Holy St. Benedict, be my witness,
I speak truth. Nor do we love the Abbot Aldam well enough to shield
him at danger to ourselves."

The veteran regarded him keenly for a moment. "I am prone to believe
you," he said; "for I myself know something of this Aldam. Yet here is
one who will need the convincing," as Sir Aymer de Lacy entered
suddenly. And behind him came an archer with a coil of rope.

"Seize the Abbot!" the Knight commanded as he crossed the
threshold. . . "Ho, Raynor! Since when are you afraid to touch a
Priest? Seize him, I say."

The old soldier advanced and saluted.

"The Abbot has escaped," he said.

"What!--Escaped!--Hell and Furies!" De Lacy cried, and sprang at him
with arm raised to strike. But instantly the anger passed; and instead
of a blow, his hand fell kindly upon Royk's shoulder. "How did it
happen?" he asked. "It was through some trick, I warrant, and by no
fault of yours."

"I thank your lordship," Raynor answered, with another salute. "The
Abbot escaped by a secret passage in yonder wall when my eyes were not
upon him. This monk saw the stone open and close," and he pointed to
the Prior.

De Lacy eyed Father James sharply, then nodded for him to speak.

At the end, he sent Royk to make another search of the entire Abbey,
and himself turned his attention to the wall. But though he tried
pressure both light and heavy and in all possible positions and
combinations the stone stood firm.

"Is this the first time you have seen this passage opened?" he asked.

"It is, my lord; this or any other of its kind. It is a violation of
the Abbot's vows to use the secret ways in presence of another."

"Do you think he never violated them before?"

The monk shook his head. "Save possibly for certain damsels, I think
not; he never before had such occasion. Yet I will inquire. . .
Brothers!" he cried, "if there be any among you who knows the trick of
this hidden door or whither it leads, I enjoin him, in the name of the
blessed Benedict and as