. It may be wise to send it, or to show it without much
comment, simply in order that she may see the effect upon the mind of
the Holy Father himself, of a full knowledge of the complete facts of
the case."

"My lord," said the Knight, with much earnestness, "how came that full
knowledge to His Holiness in Rome?"

"When first you came to me," replied the Bishop, "with this grievous
tale of wrong and treachery, I knew that if you won your way with Mora,
we must be armed with highest authority for the marriage and for her
return to the world, or sorrow and much trial for her might follow,
with, perhaps, danger for you. Therefore I resolved forthwith to lay
the whole matter, without loss of time, before the Pope himself. I
know the Holy Father well; his openness of mind, his charity and
kindliness; his firm desire to do justly, and to love mercy. Moreover,
his friendship for me is such, that he would not lightly refuse me a
request. Also he would, of his kindness, incline to be guided by my
judgment.

"Wherefore, no sooner were all the facts in my possession, those you
told me, those I already knew, and those I did for myself deduce from
both, than I sent for young Roger de Berchelai, whose wits and devotion
I could safely trust, gave him all he would need for board and lodging,
boats and steeds, that he might accomplish the journey in the shortest
possible time, and despatched him to Rome with a written account of the
whole matter, under my private seal, to His Holiness the Pope."

The Knight stood during this recital, his eyes fixed in searching
question upon the Bishop's face.

Then: "My lord," he said, "such kindness on your part, passes all
understanding. That you should have borne with me while I told my
tale, was much. That you should tacitly have allowed me the chance to
have speech with my betrothed, was more. But that, all this time,
while I was giving you half-confidence, and she no confidence at all,
you should have been working, spending, planning for us, risking much
if the Holy Father had taken your largeness of heart and breadth of
mind amiss! All this, you did, for Mora and for me! That you were, as
you tell me, a frequent guest in my childhood's home, holding my
parents in warm esteem, might account for the exceeding kindness of the
welcome you did give me. But this generosity--this wondrous
goodness--I stand amazed, confounded! That you should do so great a
thing to make it possible tha