had come to the matter of saint Edward's altar; it was such an exterior
silence as is the interior silence that came to him in contemplation.
There appeared no movement anywhere, neither in the room, nor the
palace, nor the world, nor in the three hearts that were beating there.
There was only the great presence of God's Majesty enfolding all.

When he ceased speaking, the King stared on him for a full minute
without any words, then he took his arm off the table and clasped his
hands.

"And what was it that our Lord said to you, sir?" he asked softly, and
leaned forward to listen.

Master Richard looked on the sick eyes, and then at the ruddy prelate's
face that seemed very stern beside it. But he dared not be silent now.

"It is this, your grace, that our Lord shewed to me," he began slowly,
"that your grace is not as other men are, neither in soul nor in life.
You walk apart from all, even as our Saviour Christ did, when He was
upon earth. When you speak, men do not understand you; they take it
amiss. They would have you make your kingdom to be of this world, and
God will not have it so. _Regnum Dei intra te est._ ['The kingdom of God
is within thee' (from Luke xvii. 21.)] It is that kingdom which shall be
yours. But to gain that kingdom you must suffer a passion, such as that
which Jesu suffered, and this is the tidings that He sends to you. He
bids you make ready for it. It shall be a longer passion than His, but I
know not how long. Yet you must not go apart, as you desire. You must go
this way and that at all men's will, ever within your _portans stigmata
Domini Jesu_. ['Bearing the marks of the Lord Jesu' (from Gal. vi. 17.)]
And the end of it shall be even as His, and as His apostles' was who now