"Aye, man, so soon. Death tarries for no man, and, beshrew me, it will not tarry for us either."
"I must take Leo, then."
"Very well, pick him up, but let us be off I pray."
"This is too sudden, Everard, indeed it is. I have many sick to visit, and I would fain go to the monastery just once again, to bid——"
"There must be no buts about it, Nicholas," returned his friend quickly, "the father is dying, and the baron expects you."
"Give me but an hour, then I will go with thee. 'Tis sad to break away from a spot hallowed by so many sacred memories, and at so short warning, too. I am loth to go, Everard, even now. There is no other spot on earth like this to me."
"'Tis a cold and cheerless home, truly," exclaimed the knight, sympathetically, "and I will find thee a far better one, Nicholas. See, I will give thee half-an-hour, and then you must bid adieu to this place or I must return alone and leave thee."
Nicholas submitted to the decision of his friend, and in less than the stipulated time they had both turned their backs upon the hospitable shelter which had been a home to the monk when every door seemed shut against him, and were on their way to Haddon.