THE FORETHOUGHT OF SELF-SACRIFICE
It struck ten as they entered the church.
By reason of the early hour, and also on account of the desertion of the town that day, the church was empty.
At the farther end, however, near the table which in the reformed church fulfils the place of the altar, there were three persons. They were the Dean, his evangelist, and the registrar. The Dean, who was the Reverend Jaquemin Hérode, was seated; the evangelist and the registrar stood beside him.
A book was open upon the table.
Beside him, upon a credence-table, was another book. It was the parish register, and also open; and an attentive eye might have remarked a page on which was some writing, of which the ink was not yet dry. By the side of the register were a pen and a writing-desk.
The Reverend Jaquemin Hérode rose on perceiving Caudray.
“I have been expecting you,” he said. “All is ready.”
The Dean, in fact, wore his officiating robes.
Caudray looked towards Gilliatt.