"Two prisoners, reverend sir," replied Murray. "English spies caught at Jagara by the vigilance of Monsieur de Veulle."
"Are they heretics?" demanded the priest.
"I fear I have never conversed with Master Ormerod concerning his religious beliefs," said Murray whimsically. "I should add, by the way, father, that the young man is the spy of whom I told you, who crossed upon our ship with us."
The priest peered closely at me.
"Well, sir," he asked brusquely, "are you a son of the true faith?"
"Not the one you refer to, sir," I said.
"And this savage here?"
"He believes, quite devoutly, I should say, in the gods of his race."
The Jesuit locked and unlocked his fingers nervously.
"I fear, monsieur, that you will suffer torment at the hands of my poor children here," he said. "Will you not repent before it is too late?"