rgent--Hugh, haggard, dusty, travel-stained, with
eyes, long strangers to sleep, regarding him with a sombre intensity.

"You!" exclaimed the Bishop, surprised out of his usual gentle calm.
"You? Here!"

"Yes, I," said the Knight, "I! Does it surprise you, my Lord Bishop,
that I should be here? Would it not rather surprise you, in view of
that which you saw fit to communicate to me by letter, that I should
fail to be here--and here as fast as horse could bring me?"

"Naught surprises me," said the Bishop, testily. "I have lived so long
in the world, and had to do with so many crazy fools, that human
vagaries no longer have power to surprise me. And, by our Lady, Sir
Knight, I care not where you are, so that you have left safe and well,
her peace of mind undisturbed, the woman whom I--acting as mouthpiece
of the Pope and Holy Church--gave, not two weeks ago, into your care
and keeping."

The Knight's frown was thunderous.

"It might be well, my Lord Bishop, to leave our blessed Lady's name out
of this conversation. It hath too much been put to shameful and
treacherous use. Mora is safe and well. How far her peace of mind can
be left undisturbed, I am here to discover. I require, before aught
else, the entire truth."

But the Bishop had had time to recover his equanimity. He rose with
his most charming smile, both hands out-stretched in gracious welcome.

"Nay, my dear Knight, before aught else you require a bath! Truly it
offends my love of the beautiful to see you in this dusty plight." He
struck upon the gong. "Also you require a good meal, served with a
flagon of my famous Italian wine. You did well to come here in person,
my son. If naught hath been said to Mora, no harm is done; and
together we can doubly safeguard the matter. I rejoice that you have
come. But the strain of rapid travelling, when anxiety drives, is
great. . . . Jasper, prepare a bath for Sir Hugh d'Argent in mine own
bath-chamber; cast into it some of that fragrant and refreshing powder
sent to me by the good brethren of Santa Maria Novella. While the
noble Knight bathes, lay out in the ante-chamber the complete suit of
garments he was wearing on the day when the sudden fancy seized him to
have a swim in our river. I conclude they have been duly dried and
pressed and laid by with sweet herbs? . . . Good. That is well. Now,
my dear Hugh, allow Jasper to attend you. He will give his whole mind
to your comfort. Send wor