ofthecorruptionswhichhaverushedinuponusevenlikeaflood。Thesoulsofourpurefounders，thespiritsofHughdePayenandGodfreydeSaintOmer，andoftheblessedSevenwhofirstjoinedindedicatingtheirlivestotheserviceoftheTemple，aredisturbedevenintheenjoymentofparadiseitself。Ihaveseenthem，Conrade，inthevisionsofthenight——theirsaintedeyesshedtearsforthesinsandfolliesoftheirbrethren，andforthefoulandshamefulluxuryinwhichtheywallow。Beaumanoir，theysay，thouslumberest——awake！ThereisastaininthefabricoftheTemple，deepandfoulasthatleftbythestreaksofleprosyonthewallsoftheinfectedhousesofold。*Thesoldiersofthe*Seethe13thchapterofLeviticus。
Cross，whoshouldshuntheglanceofawomanastheeyeofabasilisk，liveinopensin，notwiththefemalesoftheirownraceonly，butwiththedaughtersoftheaccursedheathen，andmoreaccursedJew。Beaumanoir，thousleepest；up，andavengeourcause！——Slaythesinners，maleandfemale！——
TaketotheethebrandofPhineas！——Thevisionfled，Conrade，butasIawakedIcouldstillheartheclankoftheirmail，andseethewavingoftheirwhitemantles——AndIwilldoaccordingtotheirword，I=will=purifythefabricoftheTemple！andtheuncleanstonesinwhichtheplagueis，Iwillremoveandcastoutofthebuilding。’’
``Yetbethinkthee，reverendfather，’’saidMont-Fitchet，``thestainhathbecomeengrainedbytimeandconsuetude；letthyreformationbecautious，asitisjustandwise。’’
``No，Mont-Fitchet，’’answeredthesternoldman——``itmustbesharpandsudden——theOrderisonthecrisisofitsfate。Thesobriety，self-devotion，andpietyofourpredecessors，madeuspowerfulfriends——ourpresumption，ourwealth，ourluxury，haveraisedupagainstusmightyenemies——Wemustcastawaytheseriches，whichareatemptationtoprinces——wemustlaydownthatpresumption，whichisanoffencetothem——wemustreformthatlicenseofmanners，whichisascandaltothewholeChristianworld！Or——markmywords——theOrderoftheTemplewillbeutterlydemolished——andthePlacethereofshallnomorebeknownamongthenations。’’
``NowmayGodavertsuchacalamity！’’saidthePreceptor。
``Amen，’’saidtheGrandMaster，withsolemnity，``butwemustdeservehisaid。Itellthee，Conrade，thatneitherthepowersinHeaven，northepowersonearth，willlongerendurethewickednessofthisgeneration——Myintelligenceissure——thegroundonwhichourfabricisrearedisalreadyundermined，andeachadditionwemaketothestructureofourgreatnesswillonlysinkitthesoonerintheabyss。Wemustretraceoursteps，andshowourselvesthefaithfulChampionsoftheCross，sacrificingtoourcalling，notaloneourbloodandourlives——notaloneourlustsandourvices——
butourease，ourcomforts，andournaturalaffections，andactasmenconvincedthatmanyapleasurewhichmaybelawfultoothers，isforbiddentothevowedsoldieroftheTemple。’’
Atthismomentasquire，clothedinathreadbarevestment，fortheaspirantsafterthisholyOrderworeduringtheirnoviciatethecast-offgarmentsoftheknights，enteredthegarden，and，bowingprofoundlybeforetheGrandMaster，stoodsilent，awaitinghispermissionerehepresumedtotellhiserrand。
``Isitnotmoreseemly，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``toseethisDamian，clothedinthegarmentsofChristianhumility，thusappearwithreverendsilencebeforehisSuperior，thanbuttwodayssince，whenthefondfoolwasdeckedinapaintedcoat，andjanglingaspertandasproudasanypopinjay?——
Speak，Damian，wepermitthee——Whatisthineerrand?’’
``AJewstandswithoutthegate，nobleandreverendfather，’’saidtheSquire，``whopraystospeakwithbrotherBriandeBois-Guilbert。’’
``Thouwertrighttogivemeknowledgeofit，’’
saidtheGrandMaster；``inourpresenceaPreceptorisbutasacommoncompeerofourOrder，whomaynotwalkaccordingtohisownwill，buttothatofhisMaster——evenaccordingtothetext，`Inthehearingoftheearhehathobeyedme。’——
ItimportsusespeciallytoknowofthisBois-Guilbert’sproceedings，’’saidhe，turningtohiscompanion。
``Reportspeakshimbraveandvaliant，’’saidConrade。
``Andtrulyishesospokenof，’’saidtheGrandMaster；``inourvalouronlywearenotdegeneratedfromourpredecessors，theheroesoftheCross。
ButbrotherBriancameintoourOrderamoodyanddisappointedman，stirred，Idoubtme，totakeourvowsandtorenouncetheworld，notinsincerityofsoul，butasonewhomsometouchoflightdiscontenthaddrivenintopenitence。Sincethen，hehathbecomeanactiveandearnestagitator，amurmurer，andamachinator，andaleaderamongstthosewhoimpugnourauthority；notconsideringthattheruleisgiventotheMasterevenbythesymbolofthestaffandtherod——thestafftosupporttheinfirmitiesoftheweak——therodtocorrectthefaultsofdelinquents——Damian，’’hecontinued，``leadtheJewtoourpresence。’’
Thesquiredepartedwithaprofoundreverence，andinafewminutesreturned，marshallinginIsaacofYork。Nonakedslave，usheredintothepresenceofsomemightyprince，couldapproachhisjudgment-seatwithmoreprofoundreverenceandterrorthanthatwithwhichtheJewdrewneartothepresenceoftheGrandMaster。Whenhehadapproachedwithinthedistanceofthreeyards，Beaumanoirmadeasignwithhisstaffthatheshouldcomenofarther。TheJewkneeleddownontheearthwhichhekissedintokenofreverence；thenrising，stoodbeforetheTemplars，hishandsfoldedonhisbosom，hisheadbowedonhisbreast，inallthesubmissionofOrientalslavery。
``Damian，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``retire，andhaveaguardreadytoawaitoursuddencall；andsuffernoonetoenterthegardenuntilweshallleaveit。’’——Thesquirebowedandretreated——``Jew，’’
continuedthehaughtyoldman，``markme。Itsuitsnotourconditiontoholdwiththeelongcommunication，nordowewastewordsortimeuponanyone。WhereforebebriefinthyanswerstowhatquestionsIshallaskthee，andletthywordsbeoftruth；forifthytonguedoubleswithme，I
willhaveittornfromthymisbelievingjaws。’’
TheJewwasabouttoreply，buttheGrandMasterwenton。
``Peace，unbeliever！——notawordinourpresence，saveinanswertoourquestions——WhatisthybusinesswithourbrotherBriandeBois-Guilbert?’’
Isaacgaspedwithterroranduncertainty。TotellhistalemightbeinterpretedintoscandalizingtheOrder；yet，unlesshetoldit，whathopecouldhehaveofachievinghisdaughter’sdeliverance?Beaumanoirsawhismortalapprehension，andcondescendedtogivehimsomeassurance。
``Fearnothing，’’hesaid，``forthywretchedperson，Jew，sothoudealestuprightlyinthismatter。
IdemandagaintoknowfromtheethybusinesswithBriandeBois-Guilbert?’’
``Iambearerofaletter，’’stammeredouttheJew，``sopleaseyourreverendvalour，tothatgoodknight，fromPriorAymeroftheAbbeyofJorvaulx。’’
``SaidInotthesewereeviltimes，Conrade?’’
saidtheMaster。``ACistertianPriorsendsalettertoasoldieroftheTemple，andcanfindnomorefittingmessengerthananunbelievingJew——Givemetheletter。’’
TheJew，withtremblinghands，undidthefoldsofhisArmeniancap，inwhichhehaddepositedthePrior’stabletsforthegreatersecurity，andwasabouttoapproach，withhandextendedandbodycrouched，toplaceitwithinthereachofhisgriminterrogator。
``Back，dog！’’saidtheGrandMaster；``Itouchnotmisbelievers，savewiththesword——Conrade，takethoutheletterfromtheJew，andgiveittome。’’
Beaumanoir，beingthuspossessedofthetablets，inspectedtheoutsidecarefully，andthenproceededtoundothepackthreadwhichsecureditsfolds。
``Reverendfather，’’saidConrade，interposing，thoughwithmuchdeference，``wiltthoubreaktheseal?’’
``AndwillInot?’’saidBeaumanoir，withafrown。``Isitnotwrittenintheforty-secondcapital，_DeLectioneLiterarum_，thataTemplarshallnotreceivealetter，nonotfromhisfather，withoutcommunicatingthesametotheGrandMaster，andreadingitinhispresence?’’
Hethenperusedtheletterinhaste，withanexpressionofsurpriseandhorror；readitoveragainmoreslowly；thenholdingitouttoConradewithonehand，andslightlystrikingitwiththeother，exclaimed——``HereisgoodlystuffforoneChristianmantowritetoanother，andbothmembers，andnoinconsiderablemembers，ofreligiousprofessions！
When，’’saidhesolemnly，andlookingupward，``wiltthoucomewiththyfannerstopurgethethrashing-floor?’’
Mont-FitchettooktheletterfromhisSuperior，andwasabouttoperuseit。``Readitaloud，Conrade，’’
saidtheGrandMaster，——``anddothou’’toIsaac``attendtothepurportofit，forwewillquestiontheeconcerningit。’’
Conradereadtheletter，whichwasinthesewords：``Aymer，bydivinegrace，PrioroftheCistertianhouseofSaintMary’sofJorvaulx，toSirBriandeBois-Guilbert，aKnightoftheholyOrderoftheTemple，wishethhealth，withthebountiesofKingBacchusandofmyLadyVenus。
Touchingourpresentcondition，dearBrother，weareacaptiveinthehandsofcertainlawlessandgodlessmen，whohavenotfearedtodetainourperson，andputustoransom；wherebywehavealsolearnedofFront-de-Buf’smisfortune，andthatthouhastescapedwiththatfairJewishsorceress，whoseblackeyeshavebewitchedthee。Weareheartilyrejoicedofthysafety；nevertheless，wepraytheetobeonthyguardinthematterofthissecondWitchofEndor；forweareprivatelyassuredthatyourGreatMaster，whocarethnotabeanforcherrycheeksandblackeyes，comesfromNormandytodiminishyourmirth，andamendyourmisdoings。Whereforeweprayyouheartilytobeware，andtobefoundwatching，evenastheHolyTexthathit，_Invenienturvigilantes_。AndthewealthyJewherfather，IsaacofYork，havingprayedofmelettersinhisbehalf，Igavehimthese，earnestlyadvising，andinasortentreating，thatyoudoholdthedamseltoransom，seeinghewillpayyoufromhisbagsasmuchasmayfindfiftydamselsuponsaferterms，whereofItrusttohavemypartwhenwemakemerrytogether，astruebrothers，notforgettingthewine-cup。Forwhatsaiththetext，_Vinumltificatcorhominis_；andagain，_Rexdelectabiturpulchritudinetua_。
``Tillwhichmerrymeeting，wewishyoufarewell。