The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-04
The proaessor bowed.


I have no doubt upon the subject. The
Church OF the Holy sepulchre is quite
out of the question. There is really no
historical evidence for II beyond n
foolish dream of the Empress Helena. in
A. y. 800. The people who Know dismiss
tho traditional site at once. or course, 1t
n generally believed, but one cannot ex-
pect the world Mt large to be cognisant
Off the doing of the authorities Canon
MacColl has said tnat the traditional site
Is the real one and as his name has
never been out of the public eye suGe
what we're called 'rhe Bulgarian Afro
cities, they are content to follow his
lead. Then there is the question Of tho
second site, In which great many pco-
pie believe they have found the true
Golgotha and Sepulchre. The Gordon
Tomb as 1t has been called excited IL
great deal OF attention at the time OF its
discovery You may remember that 1
went to Jerusalem on behalf OF the Times
to Investigate the matter. You may re-
collect that proved beyond dispute that
the tomb was not Jewish at all, but
indubitably Christian and long subse-
quent TO the time of Christ. AS a matter
Of fact when the tomb was exsavated
IT. 1873 IT was full OF human bones and
the mould Of decomposed bodies, and
there were two red-painted crosses on
the walls. The tomb was close to
large Crusading hospice, and have no
doubt that 1t was used for the burial of
pilgrims Besides, my excavations proved
that the second city WALL must have
included the new site. 80 that the gospel
narrative at once dcmolishes the new
theory. i embodied twenty-seven other
minor proofs in my letters to the
Times also. No. Mr.. Byars. my convic-
ton Ia that we are not yet able 20 loca to
in any way the position of Gosotha and
the Holy Tomb
you think that is to couie'' Rsked
Gortre.
IT feel certain" answered the Profess
sor, with great elaboration and mean
lng-'I feel certain that we are on the
eve of stupendous discoveries in this di-
rection.'
His tones were so impressive and so
charged with import that the two clergy
men looked quickly at each other. 1t
seemed obvious that Ilwellyn was aware
of some impending discoveries. He must.
they knew, be in constant touch with all
that was being done in Palestine, Gu
riously enough. his words gave each of
them a certain sense OF chill, of un-
easiness There seemed to be something
tehind them, something OF sinister sug-
gestion, which they could not divine or
formulate, but merely felt as an action
upon the nerves
1t was a rare experience to sit with the
greatest authority upon subject. and
hear his views-views which 1t would be
folly not to ACCEPT. His knowiedse was
80 sure and so profound, sense OF power
flowed from him.
But though both men felt dim pre-
montion of what his words might posi-
bly, convey. neither could bring himself
to deliberate question. Nor did Llwellyn
appear to invite It. During the whole OF
their talk he had sedulously avoided any
religious questions. He had dealt solely
with historical aspects.
His position in the religious world was
singular. His knowledge of Biblical his
tory was one of its assets. but he was not
known definitely rs believer.
His attitude had always been absolutely
non-committal. He did the work he had
to do without taking sides.
1t had become generally understood that
no definite statement of his own personal
convictions was to be asked or expected
from him.
The general consensus OF opinion was
that Sir Robert Llwellyn was not a be-
liever In the divinity of Christ: but 1t was
merely an opinion, and had never been
confirmed by him.
There was rather tense silence for
short time.
'The Professor broke IL.
Let me show YOU he said taking
gold pencil-case from his pocket. "a
little map which I published at the time
of the agitation about Gordon's Tomb.
can trace the course of the city walls
for you
He felt In his pocket for some paper
on which to make the drawing, and took
out q letter.
Gortre and the vicar drew their chair
closer.
Suddenly curious pain shot through
Basil's head and all his pulses throbbed
violently. He experienced a terribly ia
miliar sensation-the sick fear and re-
pulsion OF the night before his illness in
the great library. The aroma of some
utterly evil and abominable personality
seemed to come into his brain.
For, as he had looked down ut the
paper on which the great white fingers
were now tracing thin lines. he had seen,
before Llwellyn turned 1t over, firm,
plain signature, thus:
CONSTANTINE scHUABE.
With some excuse about the heat of the
room, he left 1t and went out into the
night.
His brain was busy with terrible intui-
tive forebodings. he seemed to be caught
up in the fringe of some great net, the
phantoms of his Illness came round him
once more. the dark air was thick with
their wlngs-yague. and because of that
more hideous.
He passed the lighted kiosk q. the
Casino entrance with white. set face.
He was going home to pray.
CHAPTER TX
INAUGURATION.
It was at Victoria Station that Basil
said goodbye to Helena. Spence had
been back again in London for a fort
night. Mr. Byars and his daughter were
I to go straight back to Manchester the
same day. and Gortre was to take pos
session Of his new quarters in Lincoln's
Inn and enter on his duties at st. Mary's
without delay.
It had been pleasant holiday, they
all agreed. as the train brought them
up from Newhaven how pleasant they
had hardly. realized till 1t was all over.
They had been all brought more inti-
mately together than ever before Gortre
had come to know Mr.. Byars with far
more completeness than had been posi-
BILE during their bySy parOchial life ut