And one of us has just made a gesture in the tiger's face." "I suppose we shall communicate with one another ?" "If we are in existence." It was curious how Percy took the lead.

He had worn his scarlet for about three months, and his companion for twelve years; yet it was the younger who dictated plans and arranged.

He was scarcely conscious of its strangeness, however.

Ever since the shocking news of the morning, when a new mine had been sprung under the shaking Church, and he had watched the stately ceremonial, the gorgeous splendour, the dignified, tranquil movements of the Pope and his court, with a secret that burned his heart and brain--above all, since that quick interview in which old plans had been reversed and a startling decision formed, and a blessing given and received, and a farewell looked not uttered--all done in half-an-hour--his whole nature had concentrated itself into one keen tense force, like a coiled spring.

He felt power tingling to his finger-tips--power and the dulness of an immense despair.