hidden; and the Knight's heart failed him.

But at ten, the Bishop called: "Hugh!" and turning from the casement
the Knight answered to the call.

The Bishop held in his hands the Pope's letter, and also a
legal-looking document, from which seals depended.

"This doth closely concern you, my son," said the Bishop, with some
emotion, and placed the parchment in the Knight's hands.

Hugh d'Argent could have mastered its contents by the light of the wax
taper burning beside the Bishop's chair. But some instinct he could
not have explained, caused him to carry it over to the table in the
centre of the hall, whereon four wax candles still burned. He stood to
read the document, with his back to the Bishop, his head bent close to
the flame of the candles.

Once, twice, thrice, the Knight read it, before his bewildered brain
took in its full import. Yet it was clear and unmistakable--a
dispensation, signed and sealed by the Pope, releasing Mora, Countess
of Norelle, from all vows and promises taken and made when she entered
the Nunnery of the White Ladies of Worcester, at Whytstone, in the
parish of dairies, and later on when she became Prioress of that same
Nunnery; and furthermore stating that this full absolution was granted
because it had been brought to the knowledge of His Holiness that this
noble lady had entered the cloistered life owing to a wicked and
malicious plot designed to wrest her castle and estates from her, and
also to part her from a valiant Knight, at that time fighting in the
Holy Wars, to whom she was betrothed.

Furthermore the deed empowered Symon, Bishop of Worcester or any priest
he might appoint, to unite in marriage the Knight Crusader, Hugh
d'Argent, and Mora de Norelle, sometime Prioress of the White Ladies of
Worcester.

The Knight walked back to the hearth and stood before the Bishop, the
parchment in his hand.

"My Lord Bishop," he said, "do I dream?"

Symon of Worcester smiled. "Nay, my son. Surely no dream of thine was
ever signed by His Holiness, nor bore suspended from it the great seal
of the Vatican! The document you hold will be sufficient answer to all
questions, and will ensure your wife's position at Court and her
standing in the outer world--should she elect to re-enter it.

"But whether she shall do this, or no, is not a matter upon which the
Church would give a decisive or even an authoritative pronouncement;
and the Holy Father adds, in, his letter to me, furth