Since the illness of Pearl, Sybil had attended to the decorating of the altar. Sometimes she had the assistance of Peggy Bathurst. But Mrs Bathurst, still fearful lest Peggy might become engaged to the curate, would not let her come as often to the chapel as Sybil wished. So Miss Tempest usually decked the altar alone. The morning after Leo's arrival she was in the chapel at mid-day with her arms full of flowers. Taking these and the altar vessels into a quiet corner she began to arrange the blossoms. While thus engaged she heard a step. At once she sprang to her feet with the love-light in her eye. She had no need to see the newcomer. Her heart told her it was Leo. "My dear!" She took him into her arms. "How glad I am to see you again! Oh, Leo, I have so many sad things to tell you." "I know all, my love," said the young man, kissing her. "I arrived last night and saw Mrs Gabriel. _She_ did not spare me." "Your mother?" "She is no more mother of mine, Sybil. She told me she hated me; called me a thief, and turned me out of the castle. I shall never enter it again--never! Last night I slept at Pratt's. He was a good Samaritan and took me in. This morning I went to see Hale." Sybil clapped her hands. "Oh, then it is all right!" she cried joyfully. "I could have told my father that you had got the money from him, but I thought it better you should do so yourself." "I can't do that without Hale calling me a liar." "Leo! What do you mean?" "That in the eyes of the people here I am both a liar and a thief. Hale, whom I saw this morning, denies having given me the money." "Has he spread that all about the town?" asked Sybil, scarcely able to believe her ears. "No, he is too clever for that. Now I know, Sybil, why he gave me the money in gold. So that he might be able to deny the debt if occasion arose, as it has done. Had he given me a cheque his signature would have given him the lie." "But what does he mean by denying that he lent you the money?" "Well, I'll give you Pratt's theory. I believe it is the true one," and the young man rapidly repeated the conversation he had had with the American on the previous evening. "So you see you were right, Sybil." "I knew it," said Sybil in low tones. "Do you remember how I told you on the day of Mrs Bathurst's picnic? What is to be done now?" "There is nothing to be done save to fight," said Leo, fiercely, "and fight I shall. I had intended to enlist, but I shall not do that until I have cleared my name. To leave here now would be to give colour to the lies that are being told about me. I shall stay with Pratt. He is my friend, and you, Sybil, also. We three will fight it out." "Mr Raston is also your friend, Leo. He says he does not believe for one moment that you did what you are accused of doing." "Thank God for that! How can anyone who knows me believe me guilty of so terrible a crime? To rob a church! Think of it, Sybil. Your father? Does he believe I did this vile thing?"