space, the cause of their resorting to sanctuary must be put upon
the register of the convent; and, praised be our holy saint, many
persons escape the weight of the law by this temporary protection,
whom, did we know the character of their crimes, we might have found
ourselves obliged to render up to their pursuers and persecutors."

As the prior spoke, a dim idea occurred to the monarch, that
the privilege of sanctuary thus peremptorily executed must prove
a severe interruption to the course of justice through his realm.
But he repelled the feeling, as if it had been a suggestion of
Satan, and took care that not a single word should escape to betray
to the churchman that such a profane thought had ever occupied his
bosom; on the contrary, he hasted to change the subject.

"The sun," he said, "moves slowly on the index. After the painful
information you have given me, I expected the Lords of my Council
ere now, to take order with the ravelled affairs of this unhappy
riot. Evil was the fortune which gave me rule over a people among
whom it seems to me I am in my own person the only man who desires
rest and tranquillity!"

"The church always desires peace and tranquillity," added the
prior, not suffering even so general a proposition to escape the
poor king's oppressed mind without insisting on a saving clause
for the church's honour.

"We meant nothing else," said Robert. "But, father prior, you will
allow that the church, in quelling strife, as is doubtless her
purpose, resembles the busy housewife, who puts in motion the dust
which she means to sweep away."