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Father Benwell shook his head。 〃No；〃 he replied； 〃I can't
honestly say that。〃
〃Then you had a reason for your silence？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃May I not know it？〃
Father Benwell got up and walked to the fireplace。 Now there are
various methods of getting up and walking to a fireplace； and
they find their way to outward expression through the customary
means of look and manner。 We may feel cold； and may only want to
warm ourselves。 Or we may feel restless； and may need an excuse
for changing our position。 Or we may feel modestly confused； and
may be anxious to hide it。 Father Benwell； from head to foot；
expressed modest confusion； and polite anxiety to hide it。
〃My good friend；〃 he said； 〃I am afraid of hurting your
feelings。〃
Romayne was a sincere convert； but there were instincts still
left in him which resented this expression of regard； even when
it proceeded from a man whom he respected and admired。 〃You will
hurt my feelings；〃 he answered； a little sharply； 〃if you are not
plain with me。〃
〃Then I _will_ be plain with you；〃 Father Benwell rejoined。 〃The
Churchspeaking through me； as her unworthy interpreterfeels a
certain delicacy in approaching You on the subject of money。〃
〃Why？〃
Father Benwell left the fireplace without immediately answering。
He opened a drawer and took out of it a flat mahogany box。 His
gracious familiarity became transformed； by some mysterious
process of congelation； into a dignified formality of manner。 The
priest took the place of the man。
〃The Church； Mr。 Romayne； hesitates to receive； as benevolent
contributions； money derived from property of its own；
arbitrarily taken from it； and placed in a layman's hands。 No！〃
he cried； interrupting Romayne； who instantly understood the
allusion to Vange Abbey〃no！ I must beg you to hear me out。 I
state the case plainly； at your own request。 At the same time； I
am bound to admit that the lapse of centuries has； in the eye of
the law； sanctioned the deliberate act of robbery perpetrated by
Henry the Eighth。 You have lawfully inherited Vange Abbey from
your ancestors。 The Church is not unreasonable enough to assert a
merely moral right against the law of the country。 It may feel
the act of spoliationbut it submits。〃 He unlocked the flat
mahogany box； and gently dropped his dignity： the man took the
place of the priest。 〃As the master of Vange；〃 he said； you may
be interested in looking at a little historical curiosity which
we have preserved。 The title…deeds； dear Romayne； by which the
monks held your present property； in _their_ time。 Take another
glass of wine。〃
Romayne looked at the title…deeds； and laid them aside unread。
Father Benwell had roused his pride； his sense of justice； his
wild and lavish instincts of generosity。 He； who had always
despised moneyexcept when it assumed its only estimable
character； as a means for the attainment of merciful and noble
ends_he_ was in possession of property to which he had no moral
right： without even the poor excuse of associations which
attached him to the place。
〃I hope I have not offended you？〃 said Father Benwell。
〃You have made me ashamed of myself；〃 Romayne answered； warmly。
〃On the day when I became a Catholic； I ought to have remembered
Vange。 Better late than never。 I refuse to take shelter under the
lawI respect the moral right of the Church。 I will at once
restore the property which I have usurped。〃
Father Benwell took both Romayne's hands in his； and pressed them
fervently。
〃I am proud of you！〃 he said。 We shall all be proud of you； when
I write word to Rome of what has passed between us。 Butno；
Romayne！this must not be。 I admire you； feel with you； and I
refuse。 On behalf of the Church； I say itI refuse the gift。〃
〃Wait a little； Father Benwell！ You don't know the state of my
affairs。 I don't deserve the admiration which you feel for me。
The loss of the Vange property will be no pecuniary loss； in my
case。 I have inherited a fortune from my aunt。 My income from
that source is far larger than my income from the Yorkshire
property。〃
〃Romayne； it must not be！〃
〃Pardon me； it must be。 I have more money than I can
spendwithout Vange。 And I have painful associations with the
house which disincline me ever to enter it again。〃
Even this confession failed to move Father Benwell。 He
obstinately crossed his arms； obstinately tapped his foot on the
floor。 〃No！〃 he said。 〃Plead as generously as you may； my answer
is； No。〃
Romayne only became more resolute on his side。 〃The property is
absolutely my own；〃 he persisted。 〃I am without a near relation
in the world。 I have no children。 My wife is already provided for
at my death； out of the fortune left me by my aunt。 It is
downright obstinacyforgive me for saying soto persist in your
refusal。〃
〃It is downright duty； Romayne。 If I gave way to you； I should be
the means of exposing the priesthood to the vilest
misinterpretation。 I should be deservedly reprimanded； and your
proposal of restitutionif you expressed it in writingwould；
without a moment's hesitation； be torn up。 If you have any regard
for me； drop the subject。〃
Romayne refused to yield； even to this unanswerable appeal。
〃Very well；〃 he said； 〃there is one document you can't tear up。
You can't interfere with my making another will。 I shall leave
the Vange property to the Church； and I shall appoint you one of
the trustees。 You can't object to that。〃
Father Benwell smiled sadly。
〃The law spares me the ungracious necessity of objecting； in this
case；〃 he answered。 〃My friend； you forget the Statutes of
Mortmain。 They positively forbid you to carry out the intention
which you have just expressed。〃
Romayne dismissed this appeal to the law irritably； by waving his
hand。 〃The Statutes of Mortmain；〃 he rejoined； 〃can't prevent my
bequeathing my property to an individual。 I shall leave Vange
Abbey to You。 Now； Father Benwell！ have I got the better of you
at last？〃
With Christian humility the Jesuit accepted the defeat； for which
he had paved the way from the outset of the interview。 A t the
same time； he shuffled all personal responsibility off his own
shoulders。 He had gained the victory for the Churchwithout （to
do him justice） thinking of himself。
〃Your generosity has conquered me；〃 he said。 〃But I must be
allowed to