Evening star., 1901-07-20
CHAPTER ".
The Abbey of Montblanch h.

landmarks. Soul anu DOuy lneS "eie oo"iiN
to their masters of the monastery OF Mont
blanch. Without permission they dareo
neither to wed nor to bury. neither to IN
crease, to multiply. to lay the brlde on lie
bride bed or the corpse upon the bier
1t was said. not q enly, indeed, but rather
with awestruck lowering of the voice and
fearful gIances to right and left, that when
the inquisition was done away with IN the
Spain of the cities and provinces, the chiefs
of the holy office had found a last place
OF refuge beneath the gray rocks OF Mont
bIanch and that whose offended against
the monks of the mountain, or refused TO
them flock or herd. son or daughter, sooner
or later entered the doors Of the monas.
terry never to be seen again in the light OF
day-
So at least ran the tale. and as the two
young men made their way upward from
San VicencIo. Rollo Blair told thess things
to the EngliShman as one who pelleVeu
them.
1T is not possible answered the latter.
scornfully. this Is no century In which
such things can be done Who talks of the
rack and the inqusition at this time
of day."
The young Scot halted sturdy peasant.
who came whistling down the path.
bundle of tough reed stems over his shoul-
der
Did you ever hear of the black room of
the monastery of Montbanch?" he said.
pinching his blue overall between his finger
and thumb.
The sunburnt ArragoHese crossed himself
and was silent.
"Speak-have you heard?'
The other nodded. and made with his fin
ger and thumb that ''feg of Spain. which
averts the evil eye, but under his loose
blouse half furtively. if ashamed of his
pIecaution.
Il have heard" he said: and was silent.
do you wish to enter it?' said Rollo.
God forbid" luoth the man with con-
viction.
And why" pursued the Scot, wishful
To make his point.
Because of those who go in thither no
one ever comes out"
The man. having thus spoken, FASTENED
To betake himself out of sight.
My object in coming to Spain is simple.
said the Englishmar, of whom his compan-
ion had asked a question. Before my
father retires and confides to me his spin
ming mills at Chorley he stipulates that 1
sfall make by ny own exertions a clear
profit of thousand pounds. l. on my
part. have agreed neither to marry nor to
return till l can do so with a thousand
pounds thus acquired in my hand. l
thought l could make 1t easily in the
wine business in any other of which
l had no knowledge" concluded the young
man. and so here ] am. Can you in any
way assist me in the buying Of good vim
tages. out of which may chance to make
profit? Besides the FIRMS credit, l have
a capital of f1oO-of which at present eight
or nine are in friends hands
Good LOrd, cried the Scot, then l. by
my folly, have put you by so much further
from your happiness. For. of course you
have sweetheart waiting for you on your
return"
II have yet TO see the woman would
give a brass farthing to marry. for
whose mess of pottage l would sell my
bachelors birthright.'
"Fegs." said Rollo Blair. gazing with ad-
miration upon his shorter companion, and.
as was his wont when excited, relapsing in
to dialect, the shoe has aye pinched the
ither foot wi me. my lad. No to speak o
Peggy Ramsay. l think hae been disap-
pointed by as mOny as a round dozen o.
lasses since 1 left the Lang Toon O. Kirk
Caldy."
''Disappolnted?" querled his companion.
how so man? Did You not please the
maids?"
"Oh, aye It was ma that" returned the
squire Of Fife. taking his companions arm
c0nfidentially. the lasses to do justice to
their good taste, were uaistly willing eu-
much. But the fact Is that aye afore the
thing gaed far eunuch. ! come to words
wi some brither OF father o the lass. and
maybe put knife into him. or maybe an
ounce o lead-I wadna wonder-to improve
his logic"
"In other words you are quarrelsome?"
said Mortimer shortly.
The Scot removed his hand from the En-
Elishman's arm and drew himself TO his full
height.
There" he said. IT beg to take issue
Win You, SIT. ATRUneNIatlNe 4 NAV De, ana
Il Is my nature. but 10 the man who filings
II in nv teeth that l am of a quarrelsome
disposition, 1 have but one answer. Sir.
receive my cardi'
And with great gravity he pulled from
his pocket an ancient cardcase of damaged
silver. bulged and dinted out of all shape
opened 1t. and burst into a loud laugh.
Il declare I have not one left. I spent
them all on those Arragonese dogs down
there. who thought, I daresay. that they
were soup tickets on the frailuchos' kitch-
en- up there! And. anyway IL is heavens
own truth a quarrelsome ungrateful
dog, But. forgive me. Mr.. Mortimer It's my
nature, and at any rate does not last long"
But You have not answered my aues-
ton" said the Englishman. II am here to
buy wines / am, above all. anxious to
take over to England some thousand hec-
toliters Of the famous Priorato of Mont
blanch and any other vintages that will
suit the English market"
But how on a hundred pounds can you
expect to do so much?' asked the Scot
with an unlooked-fOr exhibition Of native
caution.
"Oh. I have enough amount of credit for
anything that / may buy on account of the
firm. The hundred is my own private vent
uTe. and II struck me that. with Your COM
mand Of the language and my knowledge
of business. we might be able to ship some
spanish wines to the Thames on very ia
vorable terms. 1 should. Of course be glad
to pay You the usual commission"
Nintages and commissions and ship
ments are so much Greek TO me-" said Rol-
10 Blair, but II 1 can do anything to les
sen the debt OF obligement under which
you have placed me. you can count on my
services / am scarce such a fool as my
tongue and temper make me out some
times, You are the only man alive l have
tried to pick a quarrel with and failed"
II think we shall do very well together
yet. said Mortimer. THE usual commits
sion Is . per cent on all transactions up to
hundred pounds-above ~
'D-n. you and your commissions sir"
cried Blair. hotly; did I not tell you
would do my best, on the honor OF a Scot
tish gentleman
Very likely" returned the other dryIy.
but have always found the benefit of a
clear and early understanding between
partners"
They had been gradually ascending the
narrow path which wound through clumps
of rosemary. broom and bay tree laurel,
10 sheltered little plain. much of it oc-
cupied by inclosed gardens and the vast
white buildings of the monastery itself
CHAPTER VI.
Brother Hilarfo.
At the great entrance gate they paused.
uncertain which way to turn. But a chance