s which they
gleefully mount in turns, on Play Days, in the courtyard and in the
meadow. Therefore riding is not altogether strange to them, although
my palfrey, Iconoklastes, is somewhat of an advance upon their mild
ass, Sheba."

The Knight's sad face had brightened at mention of the beasts.

"Wherefore 'Iconoklastes'?" he asked, with interest. It struck him as
a curious name for a palfrey.

"Because," replied the Bishop, "soon after I had bought him he trampled
to ruin, in a fit of misplaced merriment, some flower beds on which I
had spent much precious time and care, and of which I was inordinately
fond."

"Brute," said the Knight, puzzled, but unwilling to admit it.
"Methinks I should have named him 'Devil,' for the doing of such
diabolic mischief."

"Nay," said the Bishop, gently. "The Devil would have spared my flower
beds. They were a snare unto me."

"And wherefore 'Sheba'?" queried the Knight.

"I named her so, when I gave her to the Prioress," said the Bishop, "in
reply to a question put to me by the Reverend Mother. The ass was
elderly and mild, even then, but a handsome creature, of good breed.
The Prioress asked me whether she still had too much spirit to be
easily managed by the lay-sisters. I answered that her name was
'Sheba.'"

The Bishop paused and rubbed his hands softly over each other, in
gleeful enjoyment of the recollection.

But the Knight again looked blank.

"Did that content the Prioress?" he asked; but chiefly for love of
mentioning her name.

"Perfectly," replied the Bishop. "She smiled and said: 'That is well.'
And the name stuck to the ass, though the Reverend Mother and I alone
understood its meaning."

"About the Play Day?" suggested the Knight, growing restive.

"Ah, yes! About the Play Day. The time chosen was after noon on this
day, in order that the Prioress might first accomplish her talk with
Seraphine, thus clearing the way for our experiment. Although written
last evening, I had not received the Reverend Mother's decisive letter,
when Iconoklastes set forth; and, I confess, I looked forward with keen
interest, to questioning the lay-brother on his return. As I have told
you, I had doubts concerning Seraphine; but I knew the Prioress would
see to it that my meaning and intention reached the member of the
Community actually concerned, were she Seraphine or another; and I
should have light, both on the identity of the lady and on her probable
course of