“What’s up, Valley?” whispered Wolf, taking the vicar’s cold, limp fingers in his own. “What are they doing out there? Is it Urquhart? There were three of them. They had a lantern. God, man! You’re trembling like a leaf!”

“I was in my garden⁠ ⁠… I saw them come in⁠ ⁠… over the hedge.⁠ ⁠… For a long time I watched them. I ought to have gone down to them⁠ ⁠… I know I ought⁠ ⁠… I’ve betrayed the Sacrament by not going down to them.⁠ ⁠…”

“It’s all right,” whispered Wolf soothingly. “You couldn’t have done anything. They’ve probably been drinking. Monk’s with him out there. I saw him⁠ ⁠… the great devil! The other one’s that fellow Round, no doubt.”

The priest broke away from him and began hurrying up the aisle towards the altar, Wolf following at his heels.

“There would have been a time,” he said to himself, “when⁠ ⁠… when⁠ ⁠…”