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from the library of a friend of mine； residing in the country。〃
By return of post the answer； affectionately and gratefully
written； arrived from Penrose。 He regretted that he was not able
to assist Romayne personally。 But it was out of his power （in
plain words； he had been expressly forbidden by Father Benwell）
to leave the service on which he was then engaged。 In reference
to the book that was wanted； it was quite likely that a search in
the catalogues of the British Museum might discover it。 He had
only met with it himself in the National Library at Paris。
This information led Romayne to London again； immediately。 For
the first time he called at Father Benwell's lodgings。 The priest
was at home； expecting the visit。 His welcome was the perfection
of unassuming politeness。 He asked for the last news of 〃poor
Mrs。 Eyrecourt's health；〃 with the sympathy of a true friend。
〃I had the honor of drinking tea with Mrs。 Eyrecourt； some little
time since；〃 he said。 〃Her flow of conversation was never more
delightfulit seemed impossible to associate the idea of illness
with so bright a creature。 And how well she kept the secret of
your contemplated marriage！ May I offer my humble congratulations
and good wishes？〃
Romayne thought it needless to say that Mrs。 Eyrecourt had not
been trusted with the secret until the wedding day was close at
hand。 〃My wife and I agreed in wishing to be married as quietly
as possible；〃 he answered； after making the customary
acknowledgments。
〃And Mrs。 Romayne？〃 pursued Father Benwell。 〃This is a sad trial
for her。 She is in attendance on her mother； I suppose？〃
〃In constant attendance； I am quite alone now。 To change the
subject； may I ask you to look at the reply which I have received
from Penrose？ It is my excuse for troubling you with this visit。〃
Father Benwell read the letter with the closest attention。 In
spite of his habitual self…control； his vigilant eyes brightened
as he handed it back。
Thus far； the priest's well…planned scheme； （like Mr。 Bitrake's
clever inquiries） had failed。 He had not even entrapped Mrs。
Eyrecourt into revealing the marriage engagement。 Her
unconquerable small…talk had foiled him at every point。 Even when
he had deliberately kept his seat after the other guests at the
tea…table had taken their departure； she rose with the most
imperturbable coolness； and left him。 〃I have a dinner and two
parties to…night； and this is just the time when I take my little
restorative nap。 Forgive meand do come again！〃 When he sent the
fatal announcement of the marriage to Rome； he had been obliged
to confess that he was indebted for the discovery to the
newspaper。 He had accepted the humiliation； he had accepted the
defeatbut he was not beaten yet。 〃I counted on Romayne's
weakness； and Miss Eyrecourt counted on Romayne's weakness； and
Miss Eyrecourt has won。 So let it be。 My turn will come。〃 In that
manner he had reconciled himself to his position。 And nowhe
knew it when he handed back the letter to Romaynehis turn _had_
come！
〃You can hardly go to Paris to consult the book；〃 he said； 〃in
the present state of Mrs。 Eyrecourt's health？〃
〃Certainly not！〃
〃Perhaps you will send somebody to search the catalogue at the
British Museum？〃
〃I should have done that already； Father Benwell； but for the
very kind allusion in your note to your friend in the country。
Even if the book is in the Museum Library； I shall be obliged to
go to the Reading Room to get my information。 It would be far
more convenient to me to have the volume at home to consult； if
you think your friend will trust me with it。〃
〃I am certain he will trust you with it。 My friend is Mr。
Winterfield； of Beaupark House； North Devon。 Perhaps you may have
heard of him？〃
〃No； the name is quite new to me。〃
〃Then come and see the man himself。 He is now in Londonand I am
entirely at your service。〃
In half an hour more； Romayne was presented to a well…bred；
amiable gentleman in the prime of life； smoking； and reading the
newspaper。 The bowl of his long pipe rested on the floor； on one
side of him； and a handsome red and white spaniel reposed on the
other。 Before his visitors had been two minutes in the room； he
understood the motive which had brought them to consult him； and
sent for a telegraphic form。
〃My steward will find the book and forward it to your address by
passenger train this afternoon；〃 he said。 〃I will tell him to put
my printed catalogue of the library into the parcel； in case I
have any other books which may be of use to you。〃
With those words； he dispatched the telegram to the office。
Romayne attempted to make his acknowledgments。 Mr。 Winterfield
would hear no acknowledgments。
〃My dear sir；〃 he said； with a smile that brightened his whole
face； 〃you are engaged in writing a great historical work； and I
am an obscure country gentleman； who is lucky enough to associate
himself with the production of a new book。 How do you know that I
am not looking forward to a complimentary line in the preface？ I
am the obliged person； not you。 Pray consider me as a handy
little boy who runs on errands for the Muse of History。 Do you
smoke？〃
Not even tobacco would soothe Romayne's wasted and irritable
nerves。 Father Benwell〃all things to all men〃cheerfully
accepted a cigar from the box on the table。
〃Father Benwell possesses all the social virtues；〃 Mr。
Winterfield ran on。 〃He shall have his coffee； and the largest
sugar…basin that the hotel can produce。 I can quite understand
that your literary labors have tried your nerves；〃 he said to
Romayne； when he had ordered the coffee。 〃The mere title of your
work overwhelms an idle man like me。 'The Origin of
Religions'what an immense subject！ How far must we look back to
find out the first worshipers of the human family？Where are the
hieroglyphics； Mr。 Romayne； that will give you the earliest
information？ In the unknown center of Africa； or among the ruined
cities of Yucatan？ My own idea； as an ignorant man； is that the
first of all forms of worship must have been the worship of the
sun。 Don't be shocked； Father BenwellI confess I have a certain
sympathy with sun…worship。 In the East especially； the rising of
the sun is surely the grandest of all objectsthe visible symbol
of a beneficent Deity； who gives life； warmth and light to the
world of his creation。〃
〃Very grand； no doubt；〃 remarked Father Benwell； sweetening his
coffee。 〃But not to be compared with the noble sight at Rome；
when the Pope blesses the Christian world from the balcony of St。
Peter's。〃
〃So much for professional feeling！〃 said Mr。 Winterfield。 〃But；
surely； something depends on what sort of man the Pope is。 If we
had lived in the time of Alexander the Sixth； would you have
called _him_ a part of that noble sight？〃
〃Certainlyat a proper distance；〃 Father Benwell briskly
replied。 〃Ah； you heretics only know the worst side of that most
unhappy pontiff！ Mr。 Winterfield； we have every reason to believe
that he felt （privately） the truest remorse。〃
〃I should require very good evidence to persuade me of it。〃
This touched Romayne on a sad side of his own personal
experience。 〃Perhaps；〃 he said； 〃you don't believe in remorse？〃
〃Pardon me；〃 Mr。 Winterfield rejoined； 〃I only distinguish
between false remorse and true remorse。 We will say no more of
Alexander the Sixth； Father Benwell。 If we want an illustration；
I will supply it； and give no offense。 True remorse depends； to
my mind； on a man's accurate knowledge of his own motivesfar
from a common knowledge； in my experience。 Say； for instance；
that I have committed some serious offense〃
Romayne could not resist interrupting him。 〃Say you have killed
one of your fellow…creatures；〃 he suggested。
〃Very well。 If I know that I really meant to kill him； for some
vile purpose of my own； and if （which by no means always follows）
I am really capable of feeling the enormity of my own crimethat
is； as I think； true remorse。 Murderer as I am； I have； in that
case； some moral worth still left in me。 But if I did _not_ mean
to kill the manif his death was my misfortune as well as
hisand if （as frequently happens） I am neverth