throne, my estates will be forfeited. Therefore, regard Rhodes as
your permanent home, and devote your life to the Order. Beginning
so young, you may hope to distinguish yourself -- to gain high
rank in it; but remember that though these are my wishes, they
are not my orders, and that your career must be in your own hands."

"I will be a brave knight, father," the boy said firmly.

"That is right, my boy. Now go upstairs to your bed; it is already
late. I do not regret my vow," he went on, after Gervaise had left
the room, "though I regret that he is my only son. It is singular
that men should care about what comes after them, but I suppose it
is human nature. I should have liked to think that my descendants
would sit in the old house, and that men of my race and name would
long own the estates. But doubtless it is all for the best; for
at least I can view the permanent loss of my estates, in case the
Yorkists triumph, without any poignant regret."

"Doubtless it is for the best, Tresham, and you must remember that
things may not, even now, turn out as you think. A knight who has
done a brave service does not find much difficulty in obtaining
from the Pope a dispensation from his vows. Numbers of knights
have so left the Order and have married and perpetuated their name.
It is almost a necessity that it should be so, for otherwise many
princes and barons would object to their sons entering the Order.
Its object is to keep back the irruption of the Moslems, and when
men have done their share of hard work no regret need be felt
if they desire to leave the Order. Our founder had no thought of
covering Europe with monasteries, and beyond the fact that it is
necessary there should be men to administer our manors and estates,