“We seem to be the only visitors this afternoon,” the priest said, “though generally there are a number of persons here. I suppose they do not like the high wind.”
Instead of ascending the last flight of steps, leading to the interior of the church, they turned to the left on a broad stone promenade extending around the building. On one side of this was a low stone house with several doors, and over one of the doors a sign bearing the words, “Café, chocolat, vins fins et ordinaire, spiriteaux, tabac.”
“Look at the gin-mill!” Harry exclaimed. “Who ever heard of a—” But he recollected himself before he went any further, and stopped suddenly.
“Do not stop on my account,” the priest said, with a low, pleasant little laugh. “It looks odd to you, I know, to see a liquor shop attached to a church. But every country has its own customs, you know. And here the conditions are very unusual. This is not only a church, but a fort too, as well as a signal station. All the ships that enter the harbor are signalled from the poles on the other side of the building.”
When they turned the corner, they had a beautiful view of the Mediterranean for many miles, and the harbor with its forts and breakwater, and the long range of minor hills and valleys lying between the city and its encircling mountains.
“This little house, I believe,” the priest said as they turned again, pointing to a small stone building that stood on the edge of the promenade, almost overhanging the precipice, “is for the use of the clergy attached to the church. But I have not made the acquaintance of any of them, so I cannot take you in. Perhaps we had better go up now into the church.”
They stopped, however, in front of the church door while the priest pointed out the moat, crossed by a heavy drawbridge, which they had come over without noticing.
“On account of the fort it was necessary to make the church capable of defence also,” he explained. “In case of need the church could make a very strong defence, with the bridge drawn up. I think you have no fortified churches in your country?”
“THEY HAD A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.”