knew
that the wave of enlightened feeling rising within the Church
herself had found no echo in the remoter parts of the kingdom,
where bigotry and darkness and intolerance still reigned supreme.
He was perfectly aware that the most enlightened sons of the Church
who had dared to bid the people study the Word of God, and
especially to study it as a whole, would have been denounced as
heretics had they lifted up their voices in many parts of the
kingdom. This very enlightened understanding, which was so marked a
feature in Brother Emmanuel, had been one of the strongest bonds
between him and his patron, and it seemed little short of monstrous
to the knight to hear such an accusation brought against one who
had lived a godly and blameless life, had observed far more
rigorously all the laws of the Church than the prior or the
fraternity thought of doing, and was a far truer and better son
than they ever attempted to be.

But he restrained his indignation, and only answered very calmly:

"I have seen naught of it; indeed, I have seen so much to the
contrary, that methinks it is but an idle tale, not worth your
reverence's attention. In every matter, word or deed, Brother
Emmanuel is faithful to his vows and to his calling. He is an able
instructor of youth; and were your reverence to examine him as
strictly as possible, I do not believe that any cause of offence,
however trivial, could be found against him."

"I am well pleased to hear such good testimony," returned the
prior, who was regarding his visitor with a scrutiny not altogether
agreeable to the knight. "At the same time, it is not always well
for a monk to remain too long away from the cloister, and a change
of instructor is ofttimes better for the young. I have been
thinking that it might be well to recall Brother Emmanuel, and send
in his place Brother Fabian, in whom I repose the greatest
confidence. How would such a change meet your good pleasure? If
Brother Emmanuel is in need of penance, it can better be imposed
here than elsewhere--and by all I hear it seems to me that he
stands something in need of the discipline of the monastery; and
Brother Fabian would make an excellent substitute as an instructor
for the lads."

Whilst the prior was speaking, thought had been rapid with Sir
Oliver, and something in the prior's look--a subtlety and almost
cruelty about the lines of the mouth--warned him that there was in
this proposition that which boded evil to s