“I saw in my spirit the advance of this terrible Black Death; I saw it come to this very place.  Dead and dying, cast out of their homes by those who would neither bury the one nor tend the other, were left lying in the streets around, and a deadly fear was upon all the place.  And then I saw a man step forth amongst these miserable wretches, and the man had thy face, dear cousin.  And he came forward and said to those who were yet willing to touch the sick, ’Carry them into my house; I have a place made ready for them.  Bring them to my house; there they will he tended and cared for.’  And then I thought that I saw the bearers lift and carry the sick here to this house, and that there they were received by some devoted men and women who had not been driven away by the general terror, and there were clean and comfortable beds awaiting the sick, and great fires of aromatic herbs burning upon the hearths to keep away the fumes of the pestilence from the watchers.  And as the wretched and stricken creatures found themselves in this fair haven, they blessed him who had had this care for them; and those who died, died in comfort, shriven and assoiled by holy priests, whilst some amongst the number were saved, and saved through the act of him who had found them this safe refuge.”

Raymond ceased speaking, and looked out over the fair landscape commanded by the oriel window of the room in which they were standing; and John’s pale face suddenly kindled and glowed.  The same spirit of self-sacrifice animated them both; but the elder of the pair realized, when it was put before him, how little he was fit for the work which the younger had set himself to do, whilst he had the means as well as the disposition to perform an act of mercy which in the end might be a greater boon to many than any service he could offer now.  And if he did this thing —­ if he turned his house into a house of mercy for the sick of the plague —­ he would then have his own opportunity to tend and care for the sufferers.

Only one thought for a moment hindered him from giving an answer.  He looked at Raymond, and said: 

“Thinkest thou that this sickness will surely come this way?”

“In very truth I believe that it will ravage the land from end to end.  I know that Father Paul looked to see the whole country swept by the scourge of God.  Fear not but that thy work will find thee here.  Thou wilt not have to wait long, methinks.  Thou wilt but have fair time to make ready all that thou wilt need —­ beds, medicaments, aromatic wood, and perfumes —­ and gather round thee a few faithful, trusty souls who will not fly at the approach of danger.  It may be no easy task to find these, yet methinks they will be found here and there; for where God sends His scourges upon His earth, He raises up pious men and women too, to tend the sufferers and prove to the world that He has still amongst the gay and worldly His own children, His own followers, who will follow wherever He leads.”