ld not.

"The servant of God, Velasco, is crowned unto the hand-maid of God,
Kaya. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen."

"The servant of God, Kaya, is crowned unto the servant of God, Velasco.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen."

"O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honour.

"O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honour.

"O Lord our God, crown them with glory and honour!"

Velasco passed his hand over his face; he was breathing heavily. The
crown glittered in the darkness.

"And so may the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the all-holy,
consubstantial and life-giving Trinity, one God-head, and one Kingdom,
bless you, and grant you length of days, . . . prosperity of life and
faith: and fill you with all abundance of earthly good things, and make
you worthy to obtain the blessings of the promise: through the prayers
of the holy Birth-giver of God, and of all the saints. Amen."

"Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit now, and
ever, and unto ages and ages."

"Amen."

The chanting ceased suddenly, and there was silence. Then he felt
something falling against him, and he staggered to his feet, dragging
the girl up with him. She trembled and shook, pushing him back with
her hands; her eyes were full of terror, staring up into his, the eyes
of her husband. Again everything grew misty and swayed.

He was signing a paper; how his fingers quivered; he could scarcely
hold the pen! The priest drew nearer, and the two cloaked figures.
They all signed; and then he felt the paper crackling in the bosom of
his coat, where he had thrust it. They were hurrying back through the
dark, ghostly nave.

They were running, and the sound of their footsteps seemed louder and
noisier than before; they ran side by side, through the door in the
wall, the cloisters, the arch, bowing their heads; and there was the
carriage, a great blot of whiteness, the horses like spectres. The
snow came whirling through the air in sharp, icy flakes, cutting the
skin. The wind grew fiercer, more violent.

With a last desperate effort Velasco dashed forward, pursuing the veil,
the fluttering cloak--and the door of the carriage closed behind them.
In that moment, as it closed, the horses leaped together, as twin
bullets from the mouth of a cannon; galloping, lashed and terrified
through the night. It was still inside the