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The Black Robe-Part8_WILKIE COLLINS (1824-1899)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

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the law. What the Church once lawfully possessed, the Church has



a right to recover. Any doubt about that in your mind?"

"Only the doubt of _how_ the Church can recover. Is there



anything in this particular case to be hoped from the law?"

"Nothing whatever."



"And yet, Father, you speak as if you saw some prospect of the

restitution of the property. By what means can the restitution be



made?"

"By peaceful and worthy means," Father Benwell answered. "By



honorable restoration of the confiscated property to the Church,

on the part of the person who is now in possession of it."



Penrose was surprised and interested. "Is the person a Catholic?"

he asked, eagerly.



"Not yet." Father Benwell laid a strong emphasis on those two

little words. His fat fingers drummed restlessly on the table;



his vigilant eyes rested expectantly on Penrose. "Surely you

understand me, Arthur?" he added, after an interval.



The color rose slowly in the worn face of Penrose. "I am afraid

to understand you," he said.



"Why?"

"I am not sure that it is my better sense which understands. I am



afraid, Father, it may be my vanity and presumption."

Father Benwell leaned back luxuriously in his chair. "I like that



modesty," he said, with a relishing smack of his lips as if

modesty was as good as a meal to him. "There is power of the



right sort, Arthur, hidden under the diffidence that does you

honor. I am more than ever satisfied that I have been right in



reporting you as worthy of this most serious trust. I believe the

conversion of the owner of Vange Abbey is--in your hands--no more



than a matter of time."

"May I ask what his name is?"



"Certainly. His name is Lewis Romayne."

"When do you introduce me to him?"



"Impossible to say. I have not yet been introduced myself."

"You don't know Mr. Romayne?"



"I have never even seen him."

These discouraging replies were made with the perfect composure



of a man who saw his way clearly before him. Sinking from one

depth of perplexity to another, Penrose ventured on putting one



last question. "How am I to approach Mr. Romayne?" he asked.

"I can only answer that, Arthur, by admitting you still further



into my confidence. It is disagreeable to me," said the reverend

gentleman, with the most becoming humility, "to speak of myself.



But it must be done. Shall we have a little coffee to help us

through the coming extract from Father Benwell's autobiography?



Don't look so serious, my son! When the occasion justifies it,

let us take life lightly." He rang the bell and ordered the



coffee, as if he was the master of the house. The servant treate

d him with the most scrupulous respect. He hummed a little tune,



and talked at intervals of the weather, while they were waiting.

"Plenty of sugar, Arthur?" he inquired, when the coffee was



brought in. "No! Even in trifles, I should have been glad to feel

that there was perfect sympathy between us. I like plenty of



sugar myself."

Having sweetened his coffee with the closest attention to the



process, he was at liberty to enlighten his young friend. He did

it so easily and so cheerfully that a far less patient man than



Penrose would have listened to him with interest.

CHAPTER III.



THE INTRODUCTION TO ROMAYNE.

"EXCEPTING my employment here in the library," Father Benwell



began, "and some interesting conversation with Lord Loring, to

which I shall presentlyallude, I am almost as great a stranger



in this house, Arthur, as yourself. When the object which we now




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