"It's only the wind," he murmured, with that half of his mind which was awake. "March is going out like a dragon." After Mass next day, when Mark was giving the chaplain his breakfast, the latter asked who kept the key of the tabernacle. "Brother Birinus, I expect. He is the sacristan." "It ought to have been given to me before Mass. Please go and ask for it," requested the chaplain. Mark found Brother Birinus in the Sacristy, putting away the white vestments in the press. When Mark gave him the chaplain's message, Brother Birinus told him that the Reverend Brother had the key. "What does he want the key for?" asked Brother George when Mark had repeated to him the chaplain's request. "He probably wishes to change the Host," Mark suggested. "There is no need to do that. And I don't believe that is the reason. I believe he wants to have Benediction. He's not going to have Benediction here." Mark felt that it was not his place to argue with the Reverend Brother, and he merely asked him what reply he was to give to the chaplain. "Tell him that the key of the Tabernacle is kept by me while the Reverend Father is away, and that I regret I cannot give it to him." The priest's eyes blazed with anger when Mark returned without the key. "Who is the Reverend Brother?" he rasped. "Brother George." "Yes, but what is he? Apothecary, tailor, ploughboy, what?" "Brother George is the Prior." "Well, please tell the Prior that I should like to speak to him instantly." When Mark found Brother George he had already doffed his habit, and was dressed in his farmer's clothes to go working on the land. "I'll speak to Mr. Hett before Sext. Meanwhile, you can assure him that the key of the Tabernacle is perfectly safe. I wear it round my neck." Brother George pulled open his shirt, and showed Mark the golden key hanging from a cord. On receiving the Prior's message, the chaplain asked for a railway time-table. "I see there is a fast train at 10.30. Please order the trap." "You're not going to leave us?" Mark exclaimed. "Do you suppose, Brother Mark, that no bishop in the Establishment will receive me in his diocese because I am accustomed to give way? I should not have asked for the key of the Tabernacle unless I thought that it was my duty to ask for it. I cannot take it from the Reverend Brother's neck. I will not stay here without its being given up to me. Please order the trap in time to catch the 10.30 train." "Surely you will see the Reverend Brother first," Mark urged. "I should have made it clear to you that he is out in the fields, and that all the work of the farm falls upon his shoulders. It cannot make any difference whether you have the key now or before Sext. And I'm sure the Reverend Brother will see your point of view when you put it to him."