He grew impatient again presently at the poor furnishing of the rooms, and kicked over a broken chair.
“I will have something better than that,” he said. “Get me one from the church.”
The young Abbot faced him.
“What do you want of us, Dr. Layton? Is it riches or poverty? Which think you that Religious ought to have?”
The priest gave a bark of laughter.
“You have me there, my lord,” he said; and nudged Ralph.
They sat down to supper presently in the parlour downstairs, a couple of dishes of meat, and a bottle of Spanish wine. Dr. Layton grew voluble.
“I have a deal to tell you, Mr. Torridon,” he said, “and not a few things to show you,—silver crosses and such like; but those we will look at to-morrow. I doubt whether we shall add much to it here, though there is a relic-case that would look well on Master Cromwell’s table; it is all set with agates. But the tales you shall have now. My servant will be here directly with the papers.”
A man came in presently with a bag of documents, and Layton seized them eagerly.