Now was Eustace’s turn to be roused; for, after all, he was an Englishman and a gentleman; and he said kindly enough, but firmly—­

“Courage, my dearest father.  Remember that I am still your son, and not a Jesuit yet; and whether I ever become one, I promise you, will depend mainly on the treatment which you meet with at the hands of these reverend gentlemen, for whom I, as having brought them hither, must consider myself as surety to you.”

If a powder-barrel had exploded in the Jesuits’ faces, they could not have been more amazed.  Campian looked blank at Parsons, and Parsons at Campian; till the stouter-hearted of the two, recovering his breath at last—­

“Sir! do you know, sir, the curse pronounced on those who, after putting their hand to the plough, look back?”

Eustace was one of those impulsive men, with a lack of moral courage, who dare raise the devil, but never dare fight him after he has been raised; and he now tried to pass off his speech by winking and making signs in the direction of his father, as much as to say that he was only trying to quiet the old man’s fears.  But Campian was too frightened, Parsons too angry, to take his hints:  and he had to carry his part through.

“All I read is, Father Parsons, that such are not fit for the kingdom of God; of which high honor I have for some time past felt myself unworthy.  I have much doubt just now as to my vocation; and in the meanwhile have not forgotten that I am a citizen of a free country.”  And so saying, he took his father’s arm, and walked out.

His last words had hit the Jesuits hard.  They had put the poor cobweb-spinners in mind of the humiliating fact, which they have had thrust on them daily from that time till now, and yet have never learnt the lesson, that all their scholastic cunning, plotting, intriguing, bulls, pardons, indulgences, and the rest of it, are, on this side the Channel, a mere enchanter’s cloud-castle and Fata Morgana, which vanishes into empty air by one touch of that magic wand, the constable’s staff.  “A citizen of a free country!”—­there was the rub; and they looked at each other in more utter perplexity than ever.  At last Parsons spoke.

“There’s a woman in the wind.  I’ll lay my life on it.  I saw him blush up crimson yesterday when his mother asked him whether some Rose Salterne or other was still in the neighborhood.”

“A woman!  Well, the spirit may be willing, though the flesh be weak.  We will inquire into this.  The youth may do us good service as a layman; and if anything should happen to his elder brother (whom the saints protect!) he is heir to some wealth.  In the meanwhile, our dear brother Parsons will perhaps see the expediency of altering our tactics somewhat while we are here.”

And thereupon a long conversation began between the two, who had been sent together, after the wise method of their order, in obedience to the precept, “Two are better than one,” in order that Campian might restrain Parsons’ vehemence, and Parsons spur on Campian’s gentleness, and so each act as the supplement of the other, and each also, it must be confessed, gave advice pretty nearly contradictory to his fellow’s if occasion should require, “without the danger,” as their writers have it, “of seeming changeable and inconsistent.”