“I grieve to be an interruption to your designs, Sir Knight,” said the monk, “but that purpose of thine may hardly be fulfilled.”
“How, reverend father!” said the knight, with an air of the utmost surprise; “if what you say respects my departure, understand that it must be, for I have so resolved it.”
“Sir Knight,” reiterated the Sub-Prior, “I must once more repeat, this cannot be, until the Abbot’s pleasure be known in the matter.”
“Reverend sir,” said the knight, drawing himself up with great dignity, “I desire my hearty and thankful commendations to the Abbot; but in this matter I have nothing to do with his reverend pleasure, designing only to consult my own.”
“Pardon me,” said the Sub-Prior; “the Lord Abbot hath in this matter a voice potential.”
Sir Piercie Shafton’s colour bega
