Raynor crossed to the spot in a single bound and fell to pounding with his sword hilt.  But only a monotonously dull sound answered to the blows.

“Do you know this hidden door, or whither it leads?”

“Methinks I can answer for myself and all my brothers,” said the Prior.  “There are certain secret passages in the Abbey which none but our ruler ever knows.  Doubtless this is one of them.”

“Beware, Sir Monk!” Raynor exclaimed, striding over and glaring down upon him.  “If you lie to aid your Abbot you shall hang instead of him.”

The Prior crossed himself devoutly.  “Holy St. Benedict, be my witness, I speak truth.  Nor do we love the Abbot Aldam well enough to shield him at danger to ourselves.”

The veteran regarded him keenly for a moment.  “I am prone to believe you,” he said; “for I myself know something of this Aldam.  Yet here is one who will need the convincing,” as Sir Aymer de Lacy entered suddenly.  And behind him came an archer with a coil of rope.

“Seize the Abbot!” the Knight commanded as he crossed the threshold. . .  “Ho, Raynor!  Since when are you afraid to touch a Priest?  Seize him, I say.”

The old soldier advanced and saluted.

“The Abbot has escaped,” he said.

“What!—­Escaped!—­Hell and Furies!” De Lacy cried, and sprang at him with arm raised to strike.  But instantly the anger passed; and instead of a blow, his hand fell kindly upon Royk’s shoulder.  “How did it happen?” he asked.  “It was through some trick, I warrant, and by no fault of yours.”

“I thank your lordship,” Raynor answered, with another salute.  “The Abbot escaped by a secret passage in yonder wall when my eyes were not upon him.  This monk saw the stone open and close,” and he pointed to the Prior.

De Lacy eyed Father James sharply, then nodded for him to speak.

At the end, he sent Royk to make another search of the entire Abbey, and himself turned his attention to the wall.  But though he tried pressure both light and heavy and in all possible positions and combinations the stone stood firm.

“Is this the first time you have seen this passage opened?” he asked.

“It is, my lord; this or any other of its kind.  It is a violation of the Abbot’s vows to use the secret ways in presence of another.”

“Do you think he never violated them before?”

The monk shook his head.  “Save possibly for certain damsels, I think not; he never before had such occasion.  Yet I will inquire. . .  Brothers!” he cried, “if there be any among you who knows the trick of this hidden door or whither it leads, I enjoin him, in the name of the blessed Benedict and as the ranking officer in this Chapter, that has not yet been dissolved, to reveal the same.”

The monks whispered among themselves.  Then one stood forth.

“There is none among us who knows the secret, most reverend Prior,” he answered.