d to Brother Philip, Jasper, that I will
speak with him here."

The Bishop accompanied the Knight to the door of the library; watched
him stride along the gallery, silent and sullen, in the wake of the
hastening Jasper; then turned and walked slowly back to the table,
smiling, and gently rubbing his hands together as he walked.

He had gained time, and he had successfully regained his sense of
supremacy. Taken wholly by surprise, he had not felt able to cope with
this gaunt, dusty, desperately determined Knight. But the Knight would
leave more than mere travel stains behind, in the scented waters of the
bath! He would reappear clothed and in his right mind. A good meal
and a flagon of Italian wine would further improve that mind, mellowing
it and rendering it pliable and easy to convince; though truly it
passed comprehension why the Knight should need convincing, or of what!
Even more incomprehensible was it, that a man wedded to Mora, not two
weeks since, should of his own free will elect to leave her.

The Bishop turned.

Brother Philip stood in the doorway, bowing low.

"Come in, my good Philip," said the Bishop; "come in, and shut the
door. . . . I must have thy report with fullest detail; but, time
being short, I would ask thee to begin from the moment when the
battlements of Castle Norelle came into view."

CHAPTER XLVIII

A STRANGE CHANCE

On the fourth day of her husband's absence, Mora climbed to the
battlements to watch the glories of a most gorgeous sunset.

Also she loved to find herself again there where she and Hugh had spent
that wonderful hour in the moonlight, when she had told him of the
vision, and afterwards had given him the promise that on the morrow he
should take her to his home.

She paused in the low archway at the top of the winding stair,
remembering how she had turned a moment there, to whisper: "I love
thee." Ah, how often she had said it since: "Dear man of mine, I love
thee! Come back to me safe; come back to me soon; I love thee!"

That he should have had to leave her just as her love was ready to
respond to his, had caused that love to grow immeasurably in depth and
intensity.

Also she now realised, more fully, his fine self-control, his
chivalrous consideration for her, his noble unselfishness. From the
first, he had been so perfect to her; and now her one desire was that,
if her love could give it, he should have his reward.

Ah, when would he come! Wh