Part 12 (1/2)

_Third Friar._ He was too patient with him. He would have made short work of any of us if we had gone so far.

_First Dancer._

Nam, et si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis, Non timebo mala, quoniam tu mec.u.m es.

_First Friar._ They are singing the twenty-second Psalm. What madness to sing!

_Second Dancer._

Virga tua, et baculus tuus, Ipsa me consolata sunt.

_First Dancer._

Parasti in conspectu meo mensam Adversus eos qui tribulant me.

_Second Dancer._

Impinguasti in oleo caput meum; Et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est.

_Second Friar._ Here is the Superior. There'll be bad work now.

SUPERIOR _comes in_.

_Superior._ [_Holding up his hand._] Silence!

[_They stop singing and dancing._

_First Dancer._ It's the Superior.

_Superior._ Stop this blasphemy! Leave the chapel at once! I will deal with you by-and-by. [_Dancing_ Friars _go out_.

_Jerome._ [_Stooping over_ PAUL.] He has not wakened from the trance yet.

_Aloysius._ [_Who still remains perfectly motionless._] Not yet, but he will soon awake--Paul!

_Superior._ It is hardly worth while being angry with those poor fools whose heads he has turned with his talk. [_Stoops and touches his hand._] It is quite rigid. I will wait till he is alive again, there is no use wasting words on a dead body.

_Jerome._ [_Stooping over him._] His eyes are beginning to quiver. Let me be the first to speak to him. He may say some wild things when he awakes, not knowing who is before him.

_Superior._ He must not preach. I must have his submission at once.

_Jerome._ I will do all I can with him. He is most likely to listen to me. I was once his close friend.

_Superior._ Speak to him if you like, but entire submission is the only thing I will accept. [_To the other_ Monks.] Come with me, we will leave Father Jerome here to speak to him. [SUPERIOR _and_ Friars _go to the door_.] Such desecration, such blasphemy. Remember, Father Jerome, entire submission, and at once. [SUPERIOR _and_ Friars _go out_.

_Jerome._ Where are the rest of his friends, Father Aloysius? Bartley and Colman ought to be with him when he is like this.

_Aloysius._ They are resting, because, when he has given his message, they may never be able to rest again.