Pleased to be spared the rest of the journey to the monastery, and still better pleased with the broad coin which the Cellarer gave him from the community's scanty purse, the messenger delivered his package and was about to set his horse's head homewards, without inquiring what the monks' exodus might mean, when Carvalho bade him halt. "Your Reverence," said Carvalho to the Prior none too respectfully, "I have no orders to stop letters, but I have positive orders that your Reverences must not attempt to harangue the people of Navares. And I have further orders that your Reverences must not remain in Navares beyond noon to-morrow. I am to conduct all who wish it to Lisbon, where the Government will settle the matter of the pensions of your Reverences as soon as possible." He showed the Prior two more sheets from the Viscount's inexhaustible store of papers in support of his announcement. For a moment the Prior lost his self-control. "Cur!" he said. Carvalho bowed, with the scornful smile of borrowed power towards fallen greatness, and rode off to dispose his men in two extended files, which could, if necessary, envelop the monks completely. The Prior also went back along the line, briefly telling the news to each pair of monks and bidding them be ready for a council in their lodging at Navares. As the Cellarer's kinsman, the Navares corn-merchant, lived on the outskirts of the town, the shelter of his house was gained before news of the monks' arrival had reached the townspeople. The corn-merchant was a convinced Liberal, and something of an anti-clerical: but he received the Cellarer's brethren with hearty sympathy and lavish hospitality. He gave up to the Abbot his own room. The beds of clean straw which he caused to be made along the whole length of a newly lime-washed granary were softer than the mattresses at the monastery, and his supper of soup and salt fish and cheese and wine was appetizing and abundant. Perhaps his best deed, however, was his expulsion of Carvalho and the corporal, who coolly walked into the granary so as to listen to the monks' discussions. "Very well," shouted Carvalho after the Cellarer had convinced him that his precious papers gave him no right to violate a private domicile, "I go: but I forbid their Reverences to hold any kind of assembly." "Their Reverences," retorted the corn-merchant, who feared man even less than he feared God, "will do as they please so long as they are in my house. As for your Worship, he will kindly walk out of it." After supper the council began. _Veni Creator Spiritus_ was sung. Then the Prior rose, with the letter from Lisbon in his hand, and said. "Dear Fathers and Brethren. God help us to bear our many sorrows. The courier has brought bad news.