or better," said Hugh, in his quietest manner.

"Nay!" urged Bertram, who thought he had the advantage here, "but an' it
be well to confess at all, it is good to confess unto any: and if to
any, to a woman; or if to a woman, to a man; or to a man, then to a
priest."

Hugh gave a soft little laugh.

"Good friend, I could prove any gear in the world by that manner of
reasoning. If it be good to confess unto any, then unto anything that
liveth; and if so, then to a beast; and if to a beast, then to yonder
cat. Come hither, Puss, and hear this my friend his confession!"

"Have done with thy mocking!" cried Bertram. "And mind thou, the Lord
did charge the holy apostles with power to forgive sins."

"Granting that so be--what then?"

"What then? Why, that priests have now the like power."

"But what toucheth it the priests?"

"In that they be successors unto the apostles."

"In what manner?"

Hugh was evidently not disposed to take any links of the chain for
granted.

"Man!" exclaimed Bertram, almost in a pet, "wist not that Paul did
ordain Timothy Bishop of Ephesus, and bade him do the like to other,--
and so from each to other was the blessed grace handed down, till it gat
at the priests that now be?"

"Was it so?" said Hugh coolly. "But when and where bade Paul that
Timothy should forgive sins?"

Bertram found it much harder to prove his assertion than to state it.
He could only answer that he did not know.

"Nor I neither," returned Hugh. "Nor Timothy neither, without I much
mistake."

"I must needs give thee up. Thou art the worst caitiff to reason
withal, ever mortal man did see!"

Hugh laughed.

"Lo' you, friend, I ask but for one instance of authority. Show unto me
any passage of authority in God's Word, whereby any priest shall forgive
sins; or show unto me any priest that now liveth, which shall bring
forth his letters of warrant by healing a man all suddenly of his
sickness whatsoever, and I am at a point. Bring him forth, prithee; or
else confess thou hast no such to bring."

"Hold thy peace, for love of Mary Mother!" said Bertram, passing his
irrepressible opponent a plateful of smoking pasty, for the party were
at supper; "and fill thy jaws herewith, the which is so hot thou shalt
occupy it some time."

"My words being, somewhat too hot for thee, trow?" rejoined Hugh
comically. "Good. I can hold my peace right well when I am wanted so
to do."

When Constance returned home t