"
Then the Princess said hoarsely, "Go, go;" and without word or look
Hilarius went.
The Prior rose from his knees comforted. He had wrestled with the
devil for his son's soul, and knew that he had prevailed.
CHAPTER III--OPEN EYES AT THE GATE
Another year wrote its record on forest and field. The weeks
passed; summer sped to autumn, the ripe corn bowed to the sickle.
The Convent's lands were rich and heavy, virgin soil reclaimed; and
the Prior, watching the last great wain piled high with wealth of
golden treasure, saw the porter coming to him.
Now the porter was stout, short of breath, and of a hasty spirit;
and the Prior knew something was amiss by reason of his hurried
gait and wrathful countenance.
"Domine," he gasped, "Domine, there is a ragged man at the gate, a
vagabond by his own showing, and he craves speech of thee. I bade
him go to the guest-house, but he will not budge, and hath waited
already an hour despite my--"
The porter stayed, staring; he spoke to the wind; the Prior was
already halfway to the gate.
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