It was well for Governor Henry Hamilton that the priest was so wrought upon as to unsettle his nerves, otherwise there would have been an evil heart impaled midway of Father Beret's rapier.

A little later the saintly spirit began to assert itself, feebly indeed, but surely.

Then it was that Father Beret seemed to be losing agility for a while as he backstepped away from Hamilton's increasing energy of assault.

In his heart the priest was saying: "I will not murder him.

I must not do that.