e obscurity. Here the
sky was soft and clear, and every pillar amongst the ruins stood out
against the empty background of sea and sky. Father Adrian paused.

"I will come no further," he said. "I am a saner man away from your
despoiled home. There is just a last word which I have to say to you."

Paul stood still, and listened.

"I have borne much," Father Adrian said, "much tempting and many
impulses; but I have zealously put a watch upon my tongue, and I
have spared you. For the future, your happiness--nay, your future
itself--is in your own hands. I saw your father kill the only relative
Adrea had in this world. We saw the deed done, though we have both
held our peace concerning it. Paul de Vaux, I am inclined to spare you
a great blow which it is in my power to strike. I am inclined to spare
you, but I make one hard and fast condition. Adrea is not for you! She
must be neither your wife, nor your friend, nor your ward! There must
be no dealings, no knowledge between you the one of the other! There
is blood between you; it can never be wiped out! The stain is forever.
Lift up your hand to heaven, and swear that you will never willingly
look upon her face again, or, as God is my master, I will bring upon
your name, and your family, and you, swift and everlasting shame!"

His hand fell to his side, and his voice, which had been vibrating
with passion, died away in a little, suppressed sob. Paul looked at
him steadily. The perspiration was standing out upon his forehead in
great beads, and his eyes were dry and brilliant. The man was shaken
to the very core, and in the strange upheaval of passion he had
altogether lost his sacerdotality. It was the man who had spoken, the
man, passionate and sensuous, deeply moved through every chord of his
being. The "priest" had fallen away from him, the remembrance of it
seemed almost grotesque. Paul, too, had caught much of the passionate
excitement of the moment.

"Time!" he said hoarsely. "I must have time. A few days only. I ask no
questions! Only how long?"

"A week!" the priest answered. "A week to-night we meet here!"

CHAPTER XVIII

"SOFTLY GLIMMERING THROUGH THE LAURELS AT THE QUIET EVENFALL"

"Do you know who has taken Major Harcourt's cottage, Mr. de Vaux?"
Lady May asked.

Paul was silent for a moment. He sat quite still in his saddle, and
gazed across the moor, with his hand shading his eyes.

"I beg your pardon, Lady May," he said. "I thought that