open space before the church, in the centre of which rose
the ilex-tree, pigeons and a few lean fowls were pecking and dusting
their wings, with rapturous coos and chuckles. No one appeared at the
doors of the hovels, all of which stood open, nor did any voice but
that of hens proceed from thence. But through the door-way of the
little church came a sound of high monotonous chanting, interrupted at
regular intervals by loud ejaculations from an audience.

Iskender pulled off his boots, and went in. The little nave was full
of people, some standing, a few kneeling, the most part lying prostrate
on the beaten earth which served instead of pavement. Through the door
of the sanctuary, he could see the priest Mitri, gorgeously arrayed,
serving at the altar, bright with many candles which leaned this way
and that without the least arrangement. Now he walked all round it
swinging a little censer, now stopped before a largeish book upon a
stand, reciting all the time in nasal tones. Nor was this all his
business; for, except when the curtain was drawn at the moment of the
Sacred Mystery, he kept an eye on the behaviour of some little boys who
sat demurely on the doorstep of the sanctuary, and, catching one of
them at some mischief, interrupted the service to fetch him a cuff on
the ear and ejaculate, "Curse thy father, child of Satan!" Among those
of the congregation who lay face to the earth, Iskender presently
recognised Elias; and close to him, both standing, were Selim and Daud,
sons of Musa. No one seemed to have remarked his entrance.

The service ended, all pressed forward to kiss the hand of the
celebrant, and, having done so, one by one, streamed forth into the
sunlight. Iskender soon thought himself alone in the church watching
the priest put out the altar-lights. But suddenly out of the darkest
corner a man rose up and made a step towards the sanctuary, with arms
outstretched in fierce appeal; then cried aloud and, burying his face
in his hands, ran stumbling out. Despite the untrimmed beard, the
dirty clothes, Iskender recognised Abdullah, and a shudder ran through
all his bones.

The priest, having disrobed, at length emerged from the sanctuary in
his everyday costume of black cassock and tall cylindrical headpiece;
when Iskender knelt before him with choice blessings, and implored his
aid. In the shadow, with eyes yet dazzled from the radiance of the
tapers he had just extinguished, Mitri could not