He shook his lean finger in the official's face and walked on unchallenged.
'May I come in?' he said, tapping at the door; and Julia's voice bade him enter.
He closed the door behind him and laid aside his hat. Then he stood upright, and slowly rubbing his hands together looked at Julia with the humorous twinkle lurking in his eye and its companion dimple twitching in his lean cheek. Then he began to feel his pockets, passing his hands down his worn cassock.
'Let me see, I had a love letter--was it from Don Carlos? At all events, I have lost it!'
He laughed, made a perfunctory sign of the cross and gave her his blessing. Then, his face having become suddenly grave as if by machinery at the sound of the solemn Latin benediction, he sat down.
Julia looked worn and eager. Her eyes seemed
