Certainly for many long weeks it seemed as though the boy were labouring under some demoniacal possession, and Raymond fully believed that such was indeed the case.  Often it seemed as though no power could restrain him from at least the attempt to return to the tyrant whom he believed to be summoning him back.  Possibly much of the strange malady from which he was suffering might be due to physical causes —­ overstrained nerves, and even an unconscious and morbid craving after that very hypnotic condition (as it would now be termed) which had really reduced him to his present pitiable state; but to Raymond it appeared to proceed entirely from some spiritual possession, and in helping the unhappy boy to resist and conquer the voice of the tempter, his own faith and strength of spirit were marvellously strengthened; whilst Roger continued to regard him in the light of a guardian angel, and followed him about like a veritable shadow.

Father Paul watched the two youths with a keen and observant interest.  It was by his command that Raymond was always summoned or roused from sleep whenever the access of nervous terror fell upon Roger and he strove to obey the summoning voice.  He would watch with quiet intensity the struggle between the wills of the two lads, and mark, with a faint smile upon his thin lips, the triumph invariably attained by Raymond, and his growing and increasing faith in the power of the Name he invoked in his aid.  Seldom indeed had he himself to come to the aid of the boy.  He never did so unless Roger’s paroxysm lasted long enough to try Raymond’s strength to the verge of exhaustion, and this was very seldom.

The calm smile in the Father’s eyes, and his quiet words of commendation, “Well done, my son!” were reward sufficient for Raymond even when his strength had been most severely tasked; and as little by little he and his charge came to know the monk better, and to receive from him from time to time words of teaching, admonition, or encouragement, they found themselves growing more and more dominated by his strong will and personality, more eager day by day to please him, more anxious to win the rare smile that occasionally flashed across the austere face and illuminated it like a gleam of sunshine.

John felt almost the same sense of fascination as Raymond, and was by no means impatient of the tardy convalescence that kept him so long a prisoner beneath the walls of the small religious house.  He would indeed have fain tarried longer yet, but that his father sent a retinue of servants at length to bring him home again.

But Raymond did not go with him.  His work for Roger was not yet done, and warmly attached as he was to John, his heart was still more centred upon Father Paul.  Besides, no mention was made of him in the letter that accompanied the summons home.  His brother was he knew not where, and his duty lay with Roger, who looked to him as to a saviour and protector.