In the confusion that followed Monsignor stood for a while disregarded. The man who had brought the message, had, after one more sentence snapped at him over the President's shoulder, vanished once more. For the rest--they were up now, forming into groups, talking excitedly, dissolving again, and re-forming. Only two remained quiet--Hardy and the President; the latter still in his chair, staring out moodily, with the Englishman whispering into his ear. Then Hardy too stood back and stared about him. One or two men came up, but he waved them aside. Then his eyes fell upon the priest, still waiting: he slipped away from the chair, came down the steps, and beckoned to him. Monsignor was in a whirl; but he turned and came obediently out of his place into the corner by the steps. He noticed as he came that even those who guarded the lower doors were talking. "There's news," whispered Hardy sharply. "Another envoy is coming. Who is it?" The priest shook his head. "I have no idea." "He'll be here in ten minutes," said Hardy. "He passed the line of guard-boats five minutes ago. Monsignor----" "Yes?" "Just come behind here a moment. I want to have a word with you." As they crossed the platform he slipped off again to the President's chair, whispered a word to him, and returned. "Come through here," he whispered. Together they passed through the door at the back, and so into one of the little rooms through which they had come together half an hour before. There he closed both doors carefully and came up to the priest. "Monsignor," he said, and hesitated. The priest looked at him curiously. He began to see that a disclosure was coming. "Monsignor, I have not been hard on you. . . . I came as soon as I could. . . ." "Well?" "I . . . I don't know what's going to happen. The envoy's coming at the last hour. The Council is in a very divided state of mind. You saw that?" "Well?" "They're wavering. It's no use denying it. They'd accept almost anything. It's perfectly desperate. They see that now." He was fingering the priest's sleeve by now, and his eyes were full of a pitiable anxiety. "What do you wish me to do?" "Well, they'll say I was responsible--if the negotiations come to anything, I mean. They'll say I urged them on. They'll sacrifice me--me and the President. They'll say they never would have gone to such lengths----What's that noise?" Monsignor jerked his head impatiently. He began to see light. "Well," went on the other nervously, "I want you to speak for me, if necessary--_if necessary_, you understand? You're a Christian, Monsignor. . . You'll stand by me." The priest waited before answering; as the situation took shape before his eyes, he began to understand more and more clearly; and yet----