Evening star., 1901-07-20
CHAPTER X.
A Man and His Price.

three youths who so Unexpectedly found
themselves within the Convent Of Mont
blanch. The Christine soldiery, having
fraternized with the abbey cooks and hav-
ing been treated well from the abbey cell
lars, departed about their business, leaving
guards behind them to watch the exits and
entrances Of the hill-set monastery.
Then a peace majestic and apparently
eternal as the circle Of the mountains set
tied down upon Montblanch. OF all the
men who dwelt there, monk and novice,
lay brother and serving man. only two.
the Abbot Baltasar and the gloomy con-
lessor, knew that the Abbey of the Virgin,
after existing 600 years and increasing in
riches and dignity all the while, had but
eight weeks more to live its sweet cloister-
ed life.
But to the three young men. altogether
renewed from any cares Of mind, body or
estate, these days of peace revealed new
worlds. The sweet-tongued bells that call
cd dreamily to morning prayer awoke them
In their cells. The soft yet fresh mountain
air that came in through their open win
dows, the chanted psalms in a strange
tongue, the walks to the caves of the her
mitS and the Sanctuaries of the saints up
and down the mountain sleeps had gone
far to convince John Mortimer that there
was religion In the world before the COM
ing of his fathers Primitive Methodism.
Even hair-brained Rollo grew less argu-
mertative, and 1t was remarked that on
several occasions he left his long sword
DehlDQ MIN when he went
to the conventual chapel
AS for Brother Hilario, he became so
sanity that his manservant Francois. who
regretted bitterly the Palais Royale and its
joys, haunted him with offers to convey
mission or missives to la petite Concha of
Sarria with the utmost discretionary to
be repulsed with scorn.
The abbot cultivated the society OF all
the three youths, but as the Engiishman
spoke little French and no Spanish, as the
manner of his nation is, their intercourse
was of course, restricted. Nevertheless the
affair OF the Priorato wine went forward
apace, and the bargain was struck with
the almoner Of the convent at a rate which
satisfied all parties.
But the preference Of the abbot for the
headstrong Scot Of Fife was too evident
to be ignored. and many were the specula-
tlons among the brethren as to what might
be the purpose of Don Baltasar in thus
spending 80 much Of his time with strip
ling hereto.
The abbot sounded the depths OF the
young man. He met his Scottish caution
with frank confession of his purpose:
Il am putting my life and the lives of all
these good and holy men in your hands.
Don RoIlo," he said. Amy day there may
be nationalist army here. Their outposts
are watching us even now. A fugitive was
pursued to the very altar of sanctuary the
other night What. you saw him? All. of
course. 1t was the night when our pleasant
acquaintanceship began. Frankly, then, we
are all Carlists here, Don Rollo. We stand
for the king, who alone will stand for us"
Your secret, or any secret. is safe with
me-, said Rollo, grandly, turning his quick,
frank eyes upon the prior. Not death. no.
nor torture. could drag a word from me
against my will"
The abbot perused him with his eyes
thoughtfully for moment.
mo. / do not think they would" he said
slowly, and without his usual smile.
Further, 1 would desire to enlist you as
recruit he went on, after a pause.
There are many English fighting in our
ranks, but few Of your brave northern ma
ton. Don Rollo. We need such men as you
are. We give them career. Indeed,
l have at present a mission in hand such
might make the fortune of a brave man.
1t Is worth a generals commission II
rightly carried through. Not many young
men have such a chance at twenty-five.
All. rogue. rogue. l heard of your dIings
the other night down at the Inn Of San
Vicente, and of how with your sole sword
you held at bay score of Miquelites and
Arragonese gipsies, smart fellows with
their knives, all of them"
The abbott paused a little ere he made
the plunge. Perhaps even his steadfast
pulse felt the gravity of the occasion.
Then he began To speak. lightly, rapidly,
almost nervously, with the sharp staccato
utterance with which Don Baltasar con-
cealed his intense emotion.
The commission is a great one" said
the abbot. This great order and all the
servants of God in Spain depend for their
lives on you. If you succeed Don Carlos
ers: If you fail, there is an end But 1t is
necessary that you should carry with you
your two friends. l on my part Will give
you a guide who knows every pass and
bride path, every cave and shelter stone,
betwiXt here and Madrid.
Then l am to go to Madrid?'
Not, as l hope, to Madri6, but to La
Granja where your work will await you.
1t Is, as you may know, q palace on the
slopes of the Guadarrama mountains much
frequented by the court of the queen re-
gent at Madrid
There is to he no bloodshed among the
prisoners?" said Rollo. Fighting is very
well, but am not going to be ar or rart
in any shootings of unarmed men,
MY friend" said the abboc, with affec-
tionate coniidentiality, laying his arm on
the young mans sleave, Il give you my
word of honor All you have to do is TO
bring two alniatle and Catholic ladies here,
the Lady Cristina and her little maid
They are eager to be -ecoac;lrI to their
mother church, but are prevented by evil
counsellors. They will come gladly enough,
doubt not. as soon as They are informed
of their destination"
We'll" said Rollo, 'on these conditions
1 will undertake the task; but as to those
who are there in the palace with har-how
are they to fara?'
your instructions" said the abbot, "are
these: You will go first to the camp of
Gen. Cabrera. to whom 1 will give you q
letter. He will furnish you with such es-
cort as may be thought desirable. You
as to what you must do when you arrive at
La Granja. And l will see to 1t that you
go from this place with a coloners COM
mission in the service of Carlos of Spain.
Does that satisfy you?"
1t did, but for Ill that the abbot gave
Rollo no hint as to what was to be the fate
Of those who might be taken at GranJa in
the company of the little queen and her
mother. the regent.
There was no difficulty at all about
Etienne Saint Pierre, but John Mortimer
was all for devoting his energies to the
task of getting his casks Of el Priorato
down to Barcelona for shipment. 1t was
only after he had seen the nationalist
guards stave in cask after cask OF his be-
loved wine, on which he was depending to
lay the foundation of his fortune, drinking
as much as they could and letting the rest
run to waste on the hillside. that the sui
len English anger arose and burned hotly
in the bosom Of John Mortimer.
Then will help to clear them out Of
the country, If they will not let me ship the
property 1 have bought and paid good |
earnest money upon. l can at least shoot |
a pistol as we'll as any one if the man is |
only near enough" |
So presently these three and another be- |
hind them were riding out Of the gates Of |
Montblanch, with colonel's commission /