Lord of the World

ey eyes came forward and stopped, followed by a man whom Percy knew at once from his pictures. A l

stared at the man with the y

hem again. He, too, had a strange e

?" he said d

turning to him abruptly, "

her, and came forward a

steady that maddening v

a priest,

f turning again to silence it, saw the girl mechanically lo

tremble in his voice, and with a sudden jerk forwa

ear," she said

strung up now to a desperate resistanc

a step nearer, and half recoiled. "You swear you are a

e mid

not--" he s

d straight b

ed excitement, "we must not have a scene here. The

rds the door, and Oliv

topped, turned an

id simply, to the mutt

t, and waited o

girl's voice; then Oliver was beside him, trembling all over, as white

*

life. He felt conscious of an enormous shame at the sordidness of the affair, and at the same tim

followed by Percy. Still in silence, he pointed to a chair, Percy sat down, and Oliver sto

ith the scent of roses, although the windows were wide, and the night-breeze stirred the curtains continually. It was a woman's room, he told himself. Then he looked at the man's figure, lithe, tense, upright; the dark grey suit not unlike his own, the beautiful curve of the jaw, the cle

to her husband, and put

said. "We must talk a lit

side, and the husband and wife on

l began

t once," she said, "but

d? You must not make a s

to his astonishment saw that she was quite

on't mouth like that! It is all perfe

the girl saw it too, moving her strong humorous eyes

k at this gentleman so bit

whispered

what that poor dear upstairs thinks? Now, sir,

breath. He had not

e Mrs. Brand back into

u have

ve do

s your name? It makes it

he determined to meet

My name is

with just the faintest tinge of m

om Archbishop's House, Westmins

in; can you tell us why you came

and sent

t by wha

must n

ow what good comes of being

o the Church, the soul

t.) And how do you do

ood up a

" he said. "What is the

-eyed astonishment, still with

want to know. There is no church la

what she was after. Then he saw that he would give them an

l tell you if you wis

ion, and gave h

at does it, then

Communion, and anointing, i

witched

" he sai

me. It is much better so.-And then, I suppose, Father Frank

the priest, feeling, he did not know why,

necessary? But y

sible. But I have don

his enemy was in the form of a subtle vapour. He simply had not an idea what to do next. He would have g

ry glad that you have done what you think necessary. No doubt it will be a satisfaction to you, Father Franklin, and to the poor

Percy, wondering wha

heads, and making the most of converts. We shall be so much obliged, Father Franklin, if you will give us you

d--" began

y. There has been no violence. We will promise not to

to consider, and he

I will pro

ghed con

say this, that perhaps after consideration my husband may see his way

sm shook the m

ur address, and can let you know.... By the way, Fathe

bow

h. You will find London very mu

urgh?" s

e excitement suddenly alight in her eyes. "Julian Felsenburgh," she rep

f that slight touch of fear

here is to be p

and her husb

her Franklin, and use your eyes. You will see him, I dare say, and you will see more besides." (Her voice began to vibrate.) "And you will understand, perhaps, why we have treated you like this-why we are

cried her

ew her arms round him, an

Oliver, my dear. Let hi

t, Father

were the two, husband and wife, standing in the soft, sunny light, as if transfigured. The girl had her arm round the man's shoulder, and stood upright and r

d out into the s