(Suddenly around the farther corner of the chapel the light reappears. Soloman snatches-to the shutter. Old Andrew blows out his taper and gets down upon his knees by the wall. Macias, the hunter, carrying a pine torch, comes forward across the court.)
Andrew— (Telling his beads.)
Adeste, sancti; villainy is abroad.
Macias— (Holding down his torch.)
Ay, monk, you're right. Are all the brothers in?
Andrew—Abi, fiend! Out with the sooty torch!
Old Andrew's prayers can fly to heaven i' the dark.
Macias—I meant no harm, monk. I was passing by
And heard you say there's villainy abroad.
I thought perhaps you'd heard the blind bitch howl,
As I did, mournful. Did you? Did you hear her?
Andrew— (Looking up.)
Who breaks old Andrew's mass? Zooks, it's the Devil
Thrusting his grimy face through censer smoke.
(Turning to the wall.)
Adeste, sancti; villainy is abroad.
Macias— (Reflecting.)
It may have been in my dream. (He walks out in the court.)
A few white stars
Still burned above the village. (Looking up.) Not a star
In all the heavens. (He returns right. Andrew has risen.)
Are all the brothers in?
Andrew—Up there behind the clouds?