"Oh, I expect he's honest enough; and it's a splendid field for him," he answered, repeating the argument he had urged to Stafford himself. "Ayre," said Morewood aggressively, "you've driven that young man to perdition." "Bosh!" said Ayre. "He's not a sheep to be driven, and Rome isn't perdition. I did no more than give his thoughts a turn." "I think I am glad," said Eugene; "it is much better in some ways. But he must have gone through another struggle, poor fellow!" "I doubt it," said Ayre. "Anyhow, it's rather a score for those chaps," remarked Rickmansworth. "He's a good fish to land." "Yes, it will make a bit of a sensation," assented Ayre. "We'll see what the Bishop says when he comes to turn Eugene off. By the way, is it public property?" "It will be in the papers, I expect, to-morrow. I wonder what they'll say!" "Everything but the truth." "By Jove, I hope so. And we alone know the secret history!" "Yes," said Ayre; "and you, Rick, will have to sit silent and hear the enemy triumph." Lord Rickmansworth did not think it worth while to repudiate the _odium theologicum_ imputed to him. Probably he knew he was in reality above the suspicion of caring for such things. "Shall you tell Claudia?" Ayre asked Eugene, as they went upstairs. "Yes; I shall show her his letter. I think I ought, don't you?" "Perhaps; will you show it me?" "Yes; in fact he asks me to give you the news, as he is too occupied to write to you. The note is quite short, and, I think, studiously reserved." He gave it to Ayre, who read it silently. It ran: "DEAR EUGENE: "A line to wish Lady Claudia and yourself all happiness and joy. Do not let your joy be shadowed by over-kind thoughts of me. I am my own man again. You will see soon by the papers that I have taken the important step of being received into the Catholic Church. I need not trouble you with an argument. I think I have done well, and hope to find there work for my hands to do. Pray give this news to Ayre, and with it my most warm and friendly remembrances. I would write but for my stress of work. He was a friend to me in my need. They are sending me to Rome for a time; after that I hope I shall come to England, and renew my friendships. Good-by, old fellow, till then. I long for ῆστ᾽ ἀγαυοφροϛὑῃ καὶ σοἱϛ ἀγανῖϛ ἐπἑεσσιυ. "Yours always, "C.S.K." "That doesn't tell one much, does it?" "No," said Ayre; "but we shall learn more if we watch him." Claudia came up, and they gave her the note to read. She read it, asking to have the Greek translated to her. Then she said to Ayre: "What does it mean?" "Why do you ask me?" "Because you are most likely to know." "Mind, I may be wrong; I may do him injustice, but I think--" "Yes?" she said impatiently. "I think, Lady Claudia, you have spoilt a Saint and made a Cardinal!" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Father Stafford, by Anthony Hope