steps of a woman, and the bent shoulders of the very
old, the figure moved slowly forward, stepped upon the front of the
white robe, stumbled, but recovered.

The Prioress watching, laughed--a short scornful laugh, holding more of
anger than of merriment.

With an abrupt movement the figure straightened, stood at its full
height, and strode forward. The Prioress marked the squaring of the
broad shoulders; the height, greater than her own, though she was more
than common tall; the stride, beneath the folds of the long robe; and
she knit her level brows, for well she knew with whom she had to deal.
She was called to face a desperate danger. Single-handed, she had to
meet a subtle foe. She asked no help from others, but she took no
needless risks.

As she passed the cell of Mary Seraphine, using her master-key, she
locked that lady in!

CHAPTER X

"I KNOW YOU FOR A MAN"

Entering her cell, the Prioress saw at once that her orders had been
obeyed.

The hooded figure stood on the far side of the chamber, leaning broad
shoulders against the wall. Under the cape, the arms were folded; she
could see that the feet were crossed beneath the robe. The dress was
indeed the dress of a White Lady, but the form within it was so
obviously that of a man--a big man, at bay, and inclined to be
defiant--that, despite the strange situation, despite her anger, and
her fears, the contrast between the holy habit and its hidden wearer,
forced from the Prioress an unwilling smile.

Closing the door, she drew forward a chair of dark Spanish wood, the
gift of the Lord Bishop; a chair which well betokened the dignity of
her high office.

Seating herself, she laid her left hand lightly upon the mane of one of
the carved lions which formed, on either side, the arms of the chair;
but her right hand still gripped unseen the ivory hilt; while leaning
slightly forward, with feet firmly planted, she was ready at any moment
to spring erect.

"I know you for a man," she said.

The thunder rumbled far away in the distance.

The rain still splashed against the casement, but the storm had spent
itself; the sky was brightening. A pale slant of sunshine broke
through the parting clouds and, entering the casement, gleamed on the
jewelled cross at the breast of the Prioress, and kindled into peculiar
radiance the searching light of her clear eyes.

"I know you for a man," she said again. "You stand there, revealed;
and surely you st