'Lord,' said she, 'thou art vowed to this work.' 'I know it very well,' he replied; 'but a man does as he can.' 'You, my King Richard, do as you will,' said Jehane. So he kissed her and let her go. Among the multitudinous affairs now heaped upon him--business of his new empire and his old, business of Guy's, business of the war, business of marriage--he set first and foremost this business of Jehane's. He removed her from the Queen's house, gave her house and household of her own. It was in Limasol, a pleasant place overlooking the sea and the ships, a square white house set deep in myrtle woods and oleanders. Once more the 'Countess of Poictou' had her seneschal, chaplain, ladies of honour. That done, he fixed Saint Pancras' day for his marriage, had the ships got out, furnished, and appointed for sea. The night before Saint Pancras he sent for Abbot Milo in a hurry. Milo found him walking about his room, taking long, carefully accurate strides from flagstone to flagstone. He continued this feverish devotion for some minutes after his confessor's coming-in; and seeing him deep in thought, the good man stood patient by the doorway. So presently Richard seemed aware of him, stopped in mid walk, and looking at him, said-- 'Milo, continence is, I suppose, of all virtues the most excellent?' Milo prepared to expatiate. 'Undoubtedly, sire, it is so, because of all virtues the least comfortable. Saint Chrysostom, indeed, goes so far as to declare--'; but Richard broke in. 'And therefore, Milo, it is urged upon the clergy by the ordinances of many honourable popes and patriarchs?' '_Distinguo_, sire,' said Milo, '_distinguo_. There are other reasons. It is written, So run that ye may obtain. Now, no man can run after the prize we seek if he carrieth a woman on his back. And that for two reasons: first, because she is so much dead weight; and second, because a woman is so made that, if her bearer did achieve the reward, she would immediately claim a share in it. But that is no part of the divine plan, as I understand it.' 'Let us talk of the laity, Milo,' said the King, abstractedly. 'If one of them set up for a runner, should he not be a virgin?' 'Lord,' replied the abbot, 'if he can. But that is not so convenient.' 'How not so?' asked King Richard. 'My lord,' Milo said, if all the laity were virgins there would soon be no laity at all, and then there would be no priests--a state of affairs not provided for by the Holy Church. Moreover, the laity have a kingdom in this world; but the religious not of this world. Now, this world is too excellent a good place not to be peopled; and God hath appointed a pleasant way.' Said the King, 'A way of sorrow and shame.' 'Not so, sire,' said Milo, 'but a way of honour. And if I rejoice that the same way is before your Grace, I am not alone in happiness.'