He touched one of the two or three men who were watching the athletes,
and whispered his message in the other's ear. Then he went back with
Father Anthony. "You have seen him," he repeated, when they sat once
more in the cheerless room. "Now pronounce on him."

The other answered: "I have seen a wonderful body--but the mind,
Father Victor?"

"It is as simple as that of a child--his thoughts run as clear as
spring water."

"But suppose a strange thought came in the mind of your Pierre. It
would be like the pebbles in swift-running spring water. He would
carry it on, rushing. It would tear away the old boundaries of his
mind--it might wipe out the banks you have set down for him--it might
tear away the choicest teachings."

Father Victor sat straight and stiff with stern, set lips. He said
dryly: "Father Anthony has been much in the world."

"I speak from the best intention, good father. Look you, now, I have
seen that same red hair and those same lighted blue eyes before, and
wherever I have seen them has been war and trouble and unrest. I have
seen that same smile which stirs the heart of a woman and makes a man
reach for his revolver. This boy whose mind is so clear--arm him with
a single wrong thought, with a single doubt of the eternal goodness of
God's plans, and he will be a thunderbolt indeed, dear Father, but one
which even your strong hand could not control."

"I have heard you," said the priest; "but you will see. He is coming