Evening star., 1927-05-03


hotel, engaged a room and ordered
his meal. He was evidently no stran-
ger to the place, for the old waiter
greeted him as a friend.
Going up to see them priors to-
night, SIR" he asked the identical
question that he had asked some 20
times before, and Mr.. Pawter gave
him the conventional answer
They've been busy up at the priory
lately" said the old man as he laid
the cloth. Il don't remember when
we've seen SO many people going and
coming. Motor cars all hours of the
day and night. And somebody's been
sick there, too. / saw an ambulance
going up-when was it? Must have
been last week some time. I've got
a cottage right on the road" said the
garrulous old gentleman, pausing
with his hands fun of knives and
forks and tableware. You can't go
to the priory without passing me.
And what with my rheumatics,
haven't been sleeping as we'll as
might As you might say. my cot
tage is sort of a lodge for the
priory. Monks, amt they, sir?"
Sort of monks said Pawter.
II don't know what good they get
out of shutting themselves up all
their lives but they're as close as
oysters. You never see any of them
down here, not even the lay brothers.
That seems queer to me,
Mr.. Pawter listened with the
amused air of one who was indulging
child and after he had been served
with his meal changed into a golf
suit and, with a walking stick in his
hand strolled out on to the moor,
striking across the gaunt countryside
toward q smaller road which he knew
ran parallel with the post road.
It was his wont on such excursions
to delight his mind with thoughts up
on the strange men who in past days
had traVersed this bleak moorland;
the tin merchants of Phoenicia, the
aGventurers of Rome. their feet had
worn the paths which were now the
broad arteries of traffic. But on this
occasion his mind was too greatly oc-
cupied by other matters to find room
for historical reflection.
He was a mile from his objective
when he saw the waiting car, a small
American machine that was invari-
ably employed to take him to the
priory. The elderly man at the wheel
touched his cap as Pawter came UP.
He wore the blue serge suit which
was the livery of all the workers at
the priory, and Pawter knew him by
name.
''All we'll at the priory?" he asked
as he stepped into the machine by
the drivers side.
'All well, sir said the old man.
Nobody been ill?'
"No, sir" said the other in sur.
prise. mot that L know"
They proceeded for a mile in
silence. and then Pawter asked;
How is the grand prior?''
.rva11 Fp.. r
We never see much of him. He
doesn't come through the main
gates
Pawter nodded. He was the only
prior that ever went through the
main gates. There was, in one cor.
ner of the wall, a small portal which
was known as the prior's door, and
had been used for hundreds of years
for the convenience of the superior
Of that order which the Proud Sons
of Ragousa had replaced.
He comes and goes by night, as
you know, SIR said the driver "As
matter OF fact, all the brethren do
but you. / hope there's going to be
n bit of. luck for my lodge this draw
ing" he added. I'VE haven't had
an argosy come to Plymouth so long
as I can remember. Little prizes, but
none of the big ones. And it's cur.
lous that we never get them at the
priory-none of the lay brothers, /
mean"
Your number goes in with the
rest" said Pawter good-humoredly.
He had listened to this complaint
ever since he had been associated
with the order.
Every lodge had a mild grievance
that the argosies came a little too in
frequently in their direction. The pro-
Nincial branches were certain that
3Bondon got more than its share; Lon
sion pointed dolefully TO the scarcity
Sof prize awards to metropolitan
hodges.
Z The car dipped into a valley, turned
abruptly round a great stone tor,
Through another valley and then on
4he left, between the secondary and
s1he main road, Pawter saw the ia
aniliar lines of the priory, squat, un-
lovely, so much part of the moor in
eolor and cheerlessness that a stran-
ger might pass it by without know
Ing that the priory existed. The walls
were high and gray, overgrown with
Ivy and other creeping plants. The
great gates, which swung open at
their approach, always reminded him
pf prison. But inside he came upon
the peace. A great garden, beautiful
evening fragrant beyond description.
#3lllared cloisters, dark and cool,
Rtone-tiagged paths, patiently tended.
"A very haven of peace and quietude.
Pawter got down and followed the
kilent attendant through a small door.
way and along stone passage at the
end of which the man opened an un-
inviting door that looked more like
the door of a cell than of the hand
81
WAS banked high with flowers; the
floor was covered with thick car
pet. and the furnishings of the apart
ment, though severe, was luxurious.
From this room there was an open
Ing, unfurnished, with door into the
bedroom. 1t was a typical suite of
the silent priors of Ragousa. The
book shelves, which half-coyered one
stone wall. were we'll filled
Hall is at s, sir" said the attend
ant.
He wore the conventional garb of
the Sons Of Ragousa, save that his
head was not covered, his hood hang
Ing at his shoulders.
You viii dine?"
81 have dined." said Pawter. 'Is
fhe prior welI?"
Very well, sir He has been away,
but he came back this morning"
He opened a cupboard, took out a
decanter, a glass and large siphon
pf soda, and placed on the table a
big box Of cigars.
You win ring if you require me,
kirI' he said and went out.
Pa1ter chose a cigar with care, lit
It and after smoking thoughtfully for
While he strolled across TO the
barred window that looked OUT upon
smaller courtyard. Beyond this,
Through q big gateway, he saw a
hower-groWn eXpanse, with little
mounds set at regular intervals, each
Eurmounted by a black cross Here
3ay the ancient monks who had Did
in the service Of their order before