The Velvet Glove

of the True Faith the next morning, and was informed

have to perform penance for doing so," said the

turned Sarrion, "and answer another quest

in the school herself. The Sor Teresa is only Sister Superior, yo

silence by the whole Court of Cardinals and eke, the Pope of Rome himself. So he drew his horse nearer to the forbidding wooden gate, and did not r

riest-ridden city. He was made to understand, moreover, that Juanita de Mogente had been given special opportunities for prayer and meditation owing to an unchris

eans, my

n the world may see or speak to h

ter was sharply shu

ruitless. Evasio Mon it appeared was on a pilgrimage. Sor Teresa had gone to P

ool of Nature. He was without haste, and expressed neither hope nor discouragement. But he realised more and more clearly that Juanita was in genuine danger. By one or two moves in t

he finds himself opposed by an unmistakable sign of an intelligence equal to his own or an instinct superior to it, subtly meeting his subtle attack. This he experienced now, and knew that he himself was being watched and his every action

plessness seemed to have aroused a steady determination to help h

ith characteristic patience he sifted it, and organised a

announced suddenly at midnight one night on his return from a long

g his son up and down with

will go in procession round the Cathedral to bless the people. The Cathedral is very dark. There will be considerable confusion when the doors are opened and the people crowd out. I have a few men--of the road, from the Posada de los Reyes--w

n. "I have no doubt th

er of conspirators, discussing Marcos' plans, w

t high up in the stupendous roof. The choir is a square set down in the middle--a church within a Cathedral. There are two principal entrances, one on the Plaza de la Seo, where the fountain is, and where, in the sunshine, the philosop

ight see them entered, and quitted the Cathedral by the more public doorway on the Plaza. He knew also that the convent schools took their station just within the great

people. Here and there a nun's cap or the blue veil of a nursing sister showed itself amidst the black mantillas. Here and there the white head of some old man made its mark among the sunburnt faces. For there were as many men as

unison with a strange, uncomfortable echo in the roof. Immediately on their heels followed a man in his usual outdoor clothes, who accompanied them on a haut-boy wi

rgan, far above their heads, rolled in its solemn note

n canopy, wore a long red silk robe, of which the train was carr

man tide, rising and kneeling and rising again, to dust their knees and stare about them, which wa

e with a luminous look of love and tenderness as he silently invoked God's blessing on these his people. He passed on, leaving in some doubti

wig ill-combed, put on all awry, making room with his staff and hitting

untenances-- perfunctory, careless, snuff-blown an

and impressive, especially for those who think that the Almighty is better pleased with abject abasement than a plain common-sense

king youths with flaccid faces and an unhealthy eye. Behind them stood a group of friars in rough woolen garments of brown, with heads clean shaven all

ies may be expected to have, and she was a little weary of all this to-do about the world to come; for she was young and this present world seemed worthy of consideration. She glanced backwards over her shoulder as the Archbishop passed with his following of candles, and gave a little start. Marcos wa

g and left darkness behind it. Already there was a stir among

ooked round and Sor Teresa made a motion with her head telling her to lead the way. Marcos was at her side. A few men in cloaks, and som

nd her a thousand people pressed forward towards the exit. She hurried out and glancing back on the steps saw that s

eak to you. It is all right. M

wered in a whisper.

a narrow street, where a single lamp swung from a gibbe

ta who stopp

e not to walk home. There is an omnibus t

driver is waiting to tell Sor Teresa that

nita, looking at him with bright eyes b

alk home to the school together. It is al

y?" she asked in

es

ough the streets a

; if you keep you

! But I have no money;

ike. What do y

"Those brown ones, all soft in

hand in the dim light

ocolates," he answered.

ur solemn old face again. I am very hard up. I don't rea

d to look up at him. And in

miserable. And I have no one to

answered

Marcos, I began to feel--better, you know. Was it very wicked? Of course I had never seen him. It wo

ou," sai

hing to try and find out who had killed papa, and go and kill him in return. I felt so disgusted that I was not a man. I feel so still, Marcos.

her as many chocolates as she could hope to

e said, "if you will tell

nly known to a few, of the hole in the convent wall, large enough to pass the hand through, d

ight I will come, if I can, and will poke my hand through

d when it comes throu

, rather slowly

stood beneath the thick trees until the school came, with its usual accompaniment of ea

lmates, and Sor Teresa, looking st