The hermit sat on the low couch, and he gazed wildly round the cell as though pursuing some object visible only to himself.
"Give me the parchments committed to thy trust by De Lacy, and I will build a house to thy good saint, enriching it with rare endowments."
"Thou wouldest drive a thrifty bargain with Heaven. Verily
thou shouldst have the best on 't, though," replied the hermit, with a contemptuous smile.
"Truly I could but return to Heaven the bounties that it gave; yet would I, peradventure, build, for His honour and glory, to whom all things belong, a habitation, the like whereof hath not been seen for stateliness and grandeur," said the dean, with affected reverence and humility of spirit.
"Others may do that as well as thou."
"But will he, whose coming is now at hand, make so costly a sacrifice for the welfare of the Church? I will found an abbey, holy father, consecrate to thy patron, wherein thou shalt be the ruler. I purpose to enrich it with half my possessions, even of those whereby, through thy ministry, I do become entitled from the death of Robert de Lacy."
"Which meaneth, if I but aid thee to rob another of some large and goodly inheritance, thou wilt give to Heaven, forsooth, a portion of what belongs not to thee."
"Once thou didst promise me thine aid."
"To robbery and rapine?"