took
the woman out of his side to be his blessing and curse at once. The
place whence she was taken, they say, can never fully be healed until
she is restored to it; and when that is done, it is not a certain cure.
Such being the plan of this world, it does not become us to quarrel
with its manifestations here or there. Senor caballero, if you are
ready I will proceed. Assistance at the feet, a handful of earth at
the proper moment are all I shall ask of you." He slipped a surplice
over his head. The office was said.

"Fray Juan," said Manvers at the end, "will you take this trifle from
me? A mass, I suppose, for that poor devil's soul would not come
amiss."

Fray Juan took that as a sign of grace, and was glad that he had held
his tongue. "Far from it," he said, "it would be extremely proper. It
shall be offered, I promise you."

"Now," said Manvers after a pause, "I wonder if you can tell me this.
Which way did she go off?"

Fray Juan shook his head. "No lo se. She came to me in the church,
and spoke, and passed like the angel of death. May she go with God!"

"I hope so," said Manvers. Then he looked into the placid face of the
brown friar. "But I must find her somehow." Upon that addition he
shut his mouth with a snap. The survey which he had to endure from
Fray Juan's patient eyes was the best answer to it.

"Oh, but I must, you know," he said.

"Better not, my son," said Fray Juan. "It seems to me that you have
seen enough. Your motives will be misunderstood."

Manvers laughed. "They are rather obscure to me--but I can't let her
pay for my fault."

"You may make her pay double," said Fray Juan.

"No," said Manvers decisively, "I won't. It's my turn to pay now."

The Friar shrugged. "It is usually the woman who pays. But _lo que ha
de ser_...!"

The everlasting phrase! "That proverb serves you well in Spain, Fray
Juan," said Manvers, who was in a staring fit.

"It is all we have that matters. Other nations have to learn it; here
we know it."

Manvers mounted his horse and stooping from the saddle, offered his
hand. "Adios, Fray Juan."

"Vaya V|d| con Dios!" said the friar, and watched him away.
"Pobrecita!" he said to himself--"unhappy Manuela!"

CHAPTER VIII

REFLECTIONS OF AN ENGLISHMAN

But Manvers was well upon his way, riding with squared jaw, with rein
and spur towards Valladolid. He neither whistled nor chanted to the
air; he was _vacuus viator_ no long