“What does the Pope ask you to resign?” said Manuel.

“My niece Angela and all her love for me!—­my friendship with this brave man Aubrey Leigh who works among the outcast and the poor,—­ but more than all this,—­he asks me to give You up—­you!  My child, I cannot!”

He stretched his thin withered hands out to the slight boyish figure in front of him.

“I cannot!  I am an old man, near—­very near—­to the grave—­and I love you!  I need you!—­without you the world is dark!  I found you all alone—­I have cared for you and guarded you and served you—­I cannot let you go!” The tears filled his. eyes and rolled down his worn cheeks.  “I cannot lose my last comfort!” he repeated feebly.  “I cannot let You go!”

Silently the boy gave his hands into the old man’s fervent clasp, and as Bonpre bent his head upon them a sense of peace stole over him,—­a great and solemn calm.  Looking up he saw Manuel earnestly regarding him with eyes full of tenderness and light, and a smile upon his lips.

“Be of good courage, dear friend!” he said.  “The time of trial is hard, but it will soon be over.  You must needs part from Angela!—­ but remember she has great work still to do, and she is not left without love!  You must also part from Aubrey and his wife—­but they too are given high tasks to fulfil for God’s glory—­and,—­they have each other!  Yes!—­you must part with all these things, dear friend—­ they are not yours to retain;—­and if you would keep your place in this world you must part with Me!”

“Never!” cried Bonpre, moved to sudden passion.  “I cannot!  To me the world without you would be empty!”

As he spoke these words a sudden memory rang in his brain like a chime from some far-distant tower echoing over a width of barren land.  “For me the world is empty!” had been the words spoken by Manuel when he had first found him leaning against the locked Cathedral door in Rouen.  And with this memory came another, the vision he had seen of the end of the world, and the words he had heard spoken by some mysterious voice in his sleep,—­“The light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not!” And still he looked pleadingly, earnestly, almost fearingly, into the face of his foundling.

“We must speak of this again,” said Manuel then, gently.  “But to-night, for at least some hours, you must rest!  Have patience with your own thoughts, dear friend!  To part with earthly loves is a sorrow that must always be;—­Angela is young and you are old!—­she has her task to do, and yours is nearly finished!  You must part with Aubrey Leigh,—­you cannot help him,—­his work is planned,—­his ways ordained.  Thus, you have no one to command your life save the Church,—­and it seems that you must choose between the Church and me!  To keep Me, you must forego the Church.  To keep the Church you must say farewell to Me!  But think no more of it just now—­sleep and rest—­leave all to God!”