He stepped to the hatchways and called down, announcing simply that the voyage was ended: and in the dusk there I saw monk after monk upheave himself from the straw and come clambering up the ladder; tall monks and short, old monks and young and middle-aged, lean monks and thickset--but the most of them cadaverous, and all of them yellow with sea-sickness; twenty-eight monks, all barefoot, all tolerably dirty, and all blinking in the fresh sunshine. When they were gathered, at a sign from one of them--by dress not distinguishable from his fellows--all knelt and gave silent thanks for the voyage accomplished. I could see that Billy Priske was frightened: for, arising, they rolled their eyes about them like wild animals turned loose in an unfamiliar country, and the whites of their eyes were yellow (so to speak) with seafaring, and their pupils glassy with fever and from the sea's glare. But the monk their spokesman touched my arm and motioned me to lead; and, when I obeyed, one by one the whole troop fell into line and followed at his heels. Thus we went--I leading, with him and the rest in single file after me--up by the footpath through the woods, and forth into sunshine again upon the green dewy bracken of the deer-park. Here my companion spoke for the first time since disembarking. "Your father, sir," said he, looking about him and seeming to sniff the morning air, "must be a very rich signor." "On the contrary," I answered, "I have some reason to believe him a poor man." He stared down for a moment at his bare feet, and the skirts of his gown wet to the knees with the grasses. "Ah? Well, it will make no difference," he said; and we resumed our way. As we climbed the last slope under the terraces of the house, I caught sight of my father leaning by a balustrade high above us, at the head of a double flight of broad stone steps, and splicing the top joint of a trout-rod he had broken the day before. He must have caught sight of us almost at the moment when we emerged from the woods. He showed no surprise at all. Only as I led my guests up the steps he set down his work and, raising a hand, bent to them in a very courteous welcome. "Good morning, lad! And good morning to those you bring, whencesoever they come." "They come, sir," I answered "in Jo Pomery's ketch _Gauntlet_, I believe from Italy; and with a message for you." "My father turned his gaze from me to the spokesman at my elbow. His eyebrows lifted with surprise and sudden pleasure. "Hey?" he exclaimed. "Is it my old friend--" But the other, before his name could be uttered, lifted a hand. "My name is the Brother Basilio now, Sir John: no other am I permitted to remember. The peace of God be with you, and upon your house!" "And with you, Brother Basilio, since you will have it so: and with all your company! You bear a message for me? But first you must break your fast." He turned to lead the way to the house.