Part 57 (1/2)

She met the men who were bringing the body of Jo Portugais into the shop.

Up-stairs the Cure's voice prayed: ”Of Thy mercy, O Lord, hear our prayer. Grant that he be brought into Thy Church ere his last hour come.

Forgive, O Lord--”

Charley stirred and opened his eyes. He saw the Cure bowed in prayer; he heard the trembling voice. He touched the white head with his hand.

CHAPTER LIX. IN WHICH CHARLEY MEETS A STRANGER

The Cure came to his feet with a joyful cry. ”Monsieur--my son,” he said, bending over him.

”Is it all over?” Charley asked calmly, almost cheerfully. Death now was the only solution of life's problems, and he welcomed it from the void.

The Cure went to the door and locked it. The deepest desire of his life must here be uttered, his great aspiration be realised.

”My son,” he said, as he came softly to the bedside again, ”you have given to us all you had--your charity, your wisdom, your skill. You have ”--it was hard, but the man's wound was mortal, and it must be said ”you have consecrated our new church with your blood. You have given all to us; we will give all to you--”

There was a soft knocking at the door. He went and opened it a very little. ”He is conscious, Rosalie,” he whispered. ”Wait--wait--one moment.”

Then came the Seigneur's voice saying that Jo was gone, and that all the robbers had escaped, save the two disposed of by Charley and Jo.

The Cure turned to the bed once more. ”What did he say about Jo?”

Charley asked.

”He is dead, my son, and the quack-doctor also. The others have escaped.”

Charley turned his face away. ”Au revoir, Jo,” he said into the great distance.

Then there was silence for a moment, while outside the door a girl prayed, with an old woman's arm around her.

The Cure leaned over Charley again. ”Shall not the sacraments of the Church comfort you in your last hours?” he said. ”It is the way, the truth, and the life. It is the Voice that says: 'Peace' to the vexed mind. Human intellect is vanity; only the soul survives. Will you not hear the Voice? Will you not give us who love and honour you the right to make you ours for ever? Will you not come to the bosom of that Church for which you have given all?”

”Tell them so,” Charley said, and he motioned towards the window, under which the people were gathered.

With a glad exclamation the Cure hastened to the window, and, in a voice of sorrowful exultation, spoke to the people below.

Charley reckoned swiftly with his fate. What was there now to do? If his wound was not mortal, what tragedy might now come! For Billy's hand--the hand of Kathleen's brother--had brought him low. If the robbers and murderers were captured, he must be dragged into the old life, and to what an issue--all the old problems carried into more terrible conditions. And Rosalie--in his half-consciousness he had felt her near him; he felt her near him now. Rosalie--in any case, what could there be for her? Nothing. He had heard the Cure whisper her name at the door.

She was outside-praying for him. He stretched out a hand as though he saw her, and his lips framed her name. In his weakness and fading life he had no anguish in the thought of her. Life and Love were growing distant though he loved her as few love and live. She would be removed from want by him--there were the pearls and the money in the safe with the money of the Church; there was the letter to the Cure, his last testament, leaving all to her. He, sleeping, would fear no foe; she, awake in the living world, would hold him in dear remembrance. Death were the better thing for all. Then Kathleen in her happiness would be at peace; and even Billy might go unmolested, for, who was there to recognise Billy, now that Portugais was dead?

He heard the Cure's voice at the window--”Oh, my dear people, G.o.d has given him to us at last. I go now to prepare him for his long journey, to--”

Charley realised and shuddered. Receive the sacraments of the Church?

Be made ready by the priest for his going hence--end all the soul's interrogations, with the solving of his own mortal problems? Say ”I believe,” confess his sins, and, receiving absolution, lie down in peace.

He suddenly raised himself on his elbow, flinging his body over. The bandage of his wound was displaced, and blood gushed out upon the white clothes of the bed. ”Rosalie!” he gasped. ”Rosalie, my love!

G.o.d keep...”