His thin, thought-worn features and sunken, haggard cheeks bespoke one who had indeed beaten down that inner foe whom every man must face, but had none the less suffered sorely in the contest.

In crushing his passions he had well-nigh crushed himself.

Yet, frail as was his person there gleamed out ever and anon from under his drooping brows a flash of fierce energy, which recalled to men's minds that he came of a fighting stock, and that even now his twin-brother, Sir Bartholomew Berghersh, was one of the most famous of those stern warriors who had planted the Cross of St.George before the gates of Paris.

With lips compressed and clouded brow, he strode up and down the oaken floor, the very genius and impersonation of asceticism, while the great bell still thundered and clanged above his head.

At last the uproar died away in three last, measured throbs, and ere their echo had ceased the Abbot struck a small gong which summoned a lay-brother to his presence.
"Have the brethren come ?" he asked, in the Anglo-French dialect used in religious houses.
"They are here," the other answered, with his eyes cast down and his hands crossed upon his chest.
"All ?" "Two and thirty of the seniors and fifteen of the novices, most holy father.