“Loot?” Fray Felipe thundered, taking another step forward. “You would profane this house? You would lay sacrilegious hands on what is to be found here, even as you have voiced sacrilegious tones within these walls? Scum of the earth, begone!”
They surged toward him. “One side, fray!” shouted a foremost one. “Respect the black flag and we respect your gown!”
“Spawn of hell! Sons of the devil!” Fray Felipe thundered. “Back to the door, and out of this holy place!”
He scarcely hoped to stop them. There were rich ornaments on the altar, and in the uncertain light the torches shed he could see the eyes of those nearest glittering. And the gem-studded goblet was there!
Thought of the gem-studded goblet gave new strength to ancient Fray Felipe. It was a relic highly prized. Fray Felipe loved it, and cared for it tenderly. There was a legend connected with it. Once it had been touched by a saint’s lips, men had said. To have this scum as much as touch the sacred goblet was too much—to have them steal it would be unthinkable.
Once more they surged forward, and Fray Felipe sprang before the altar and threw up his hands in a gesture of command.
“Back!” he cried. “Would you damn beyond recovery your immortal souls? Would you commit the unpardonable sin?”
“Ha!” shouted a man in the front of the throng. “Worry not about our souls, fray! One side, else you’ll have a chance to worry about the state of your own! We have scant time to spend on a fray!”
“What would you?” Fray Felipe asked.
“Loot, fool of a fray!”