At three o’clock on the afternoon they arrived, the two young Gothamites stood with good Brother Cristofer in the great, cold hallway of the monastery to watch the monks march past on their way to the refectory.  They came slowly, pacing by twos, with their heads bowed, treading noiselessly with sandaled feet upon the rough stone flags.  As the procession slowly filed past, Eyres suddenly gripped Gilliam by the arm.  “Look,” he whispered, eagerly, “at the one just opposite you now—­the one on this side, with his hand at his waist—­if that isn’t Johnny Bellchambers then I never saw him!”

Gilliam saw and recognized the lost glass of fashion.

“What the deuce,” said he, wonderingly, “is old Bell doing here?  Tommy, it surely can’t be he!  Never heard of Bell having a turn for the religious.  Fact is, I’ve heard him say things when a four-in-hand didn’t seem to tie up just right that would bring him up for court-martial before any church.”

“It’s Bell, without a doubt,” said Eyres, firmly, “or I’m pretty badly in need of an oculist.  But think of Johnny Bellchambers, the Royal High Chancellor of swell togs and the Mahatma of pink teas, up here in cold storage doing penance in a snuff-colored bathrobe!  I can’t get it straight in my mind.  Let’s ask the jolly old boy that’s doing the honors.”

Brother Cristofer was appealed to for information.  By that time the monks had passed into the refectory.  He could not tell to which one they referred.  Bellchambers?  Ah, the brothers of St. Gondrau abandoned their worldly names when they took the vows.  Did the gentlemen wish to speak with one of the brothers?  If they would come to the refectory and indicate the one they wished to see, the reverend abbot in authority would, doubtless, permit it.

Eyres and Gilliam went into the dining hall and pointed out to Brother Cristofer the man they had seen.  Yes, it was Johnny Bellchambers.  They saw his face plainly now, as he sat among the dingy brothers, never looking up, eating broth from a coarse, brown bowl.

Permission to speak to one of the brothers was granted to the two travelers by the abbot, and they waited in a reception room for him to come.  When he did come, treading softly in his sandals, both Eyres and Gilliam looked at him in perplexity and astonishment.  It was Johnny Bellchambers, but he had a different look.  Upon his smooth-shaven face was an expression of ineffable peace, of rapturous attainment, of perfect and complete happiness.  His form was proudly erect, his eyes shone with a serene and gracious light.  He was as neat and well-groomed as in the old New York days, but how differently was he clad!  Now he seemed clothed in but a single garment—­a long robe of rough brown cloth, gathered by a cord at the waist, and falling in straight, loose folds nearly to his feet.  He shook hands with his visitors with his old ease and grace of manner.  If there was any embarrassment in that meeting it was not manifested by Johnny Bellchambers.  The room had no seats; they stood to converse.