CHAPTER IV
I
Oliver Brand, seated in his little private room at Whitehall, wasexpecting a visitor. It was already close upon ten o'clock, and athalf-past he must be in the House. He had hoped that Mr. Francis,whoever he might be, would not detain him long. Even now, every momentwas a respite, for the work had become simply prodigious during the lastweeks.
But he was not reprieved for more than a minute, for the last boom fromthe Victoria Tower had scarcely ceased to throb when the door opened anda clerkly voice uttered the name he was expecting.
Oliver shot one quick look at the stranger, at his drooping lids anddown-turned mouth, summed him up fairly and accurately in the momentsduring which they seated themselves, and went briskly to business.
"At twenty-five minutes past, sir, I must leave this room," he said."Until then---" he made a little gesture.
Mr. Francis reassured him.
"Thank you, Mr. Brand--that is ample time. Then, if you will excuseme---" He groped in his breast-pocket, and drew out a long envelope.
"I will leave this with you," he said, "when I go. It sets out ourdesires at length and our names. And this is what I have to say, sir."
He sat back, crossed his legs, and went on, with a touch of eagerness inhis voice.
"I am a kind of deputation, as you know," he said. "We have somethingboth to ask and to offer. I am chosen because it was my own idea. First,may I ask a question?"
Oliver bowed.
"I wish to ask nothing that I ought not. But I believe it is practicallycertain, is it not?--that Divine Worship is to be restored throughoutthe kingdom?"
Oliver smiled.
"I suppose so," he said. "The bill has been read for the third time,and, as you know, the President is to speak upon it this evening."
"He will not veto it?"
"We suppose not. He has assented to it in Germany."
"Just so," said Mr. Francis. "And if he assents here, I suppose it willbecome law immediately."
Oliver leaned over this table, and drew out the green paper thatcontained the Bill.
"You have this, of course---" he said. "Well, it becomes law at once;and the first feast will be observed on the first of October.'Paternity,' is it not? Yes, Paternity."
"There will be something of a rush then," said the other eagerly. "Why,that is only a week hence."
"I have not charge of this department," said Oliver, laying back theBill. "But I understand that the ritual will be that already in use inGermany. There is no reason why we should be peculiar."
"And the Abbey will be used?"
"Why, yes."
"Well, sir," said Mr. Francis, "of course I know the GovernmentCommission has studied it all very closely, and no doubt has its ownplans. But it appears to me that they will want all the experience theycan get."
"No doubt."
"Well, Mr. Brand, the society which I represent consists entirely of menwho were once Catholic priests. We number about two hundred in London. Iwill leave a pamphlet with you, if I may, stating our objects, ourconstitution, and so on. It seemed to us that here was a matter in whichour past experience might be of service to the Government. Catholicceremonies, as you know, are very intricate, and some of us studied themvery deeply in old days. We used to say that Masters of Ceremonies wereborn, not made, and we have a fair number of those amongst us. Butindeed every priest is something of a ceremonialist."
He paused.
"Yes, Mr. Francis?"
"I am sure the Government realises the immense importance of all goingsmoothly. If Divine Service was at all grotesque or disorderly, it wouldlargely defeat its own object. So I have been deputed to see you, Mr.Brand, and to suggest to you that here is a body of men--reckon it as atleast twenty-five--who have had special experience in this kind ofthing, and are perfectly ready to put themselves at the disposal of theGovernment."
Oliver could not resist a faint flicker of a smile at the corner of hismouth. It was a very grim bit of irony, he thought, but it seemedsensible enough.
"I quite understand, Mr. Francis. It seems a very reasonable suggestion.But I do not think I am the proper person. Mr. Snowford---"
"Yes, yes, sir, I know. But your speech the other day inspired us all.You said exactly what was in all our hearts--that the world could notlive without worship; and that now that God was found at last---"
Oliver waved his hand. He hated even a touch of flattery.
"It is very good of you, Mr. Francis. I will certainly speak to Mr.Snowford. I understand that you offer yourselves as--as Masters ofCeremonies--?"
"Yes, sir; and sacristans. I have studied the German ritual verycarefully; it is more elaborate than I had thought it. It will need agood deal of adroitness. I imagine that you will want at least a dozen_Ceremoniarii_ in the Abbey; and a dozen more in the vestries willscarcely be too much."
Oliver nodded abruptly, looking curiously at the eager pathetic face ofthe man opposite him; yet it had something, too, of that mask-likepriestly look that he had seen before in others like him. This wasevidently a devotee.
"You are all Masons, of course?" he said.
"Why, of course, Mr. Brand."
"Very good. I will speak to Mr. Snowford to-day if I can catch him."
He glanced at the clock. There were yet three or four minutes.
"You have seen the new appointment in Rome, sir," went on Mr. Francis.
Oliver shook his head. He was not particularly interested in Rome justnow.
"Cardinal Martin is dead--he died on Tuesday--and his place is alreadyfilled."
"Indeed, sir?"
"Yes--the new man was once a friend of mine--Franklin, his nameis--Percy Franklin."
"Eh?"
"What is the matter, Mr. Brand? Did you know him?"
Oliver was eyeing him darkly, a little pale.
"Yes; I knew him," he said quietly. "At least, I think so."
"He was at Westminster until a month or two ago."
"Yes, yes," said Oliver, still looking at him. "And you knew him, Mr.Francis?"
"I knew him--yes."
"Ah!--well, I should like to have a talk some day about him."
He broke off. It yet wanted a minute to his time.
"And that is all?" he asked.
"That is all my actual business, sir," answered the other. "But I hopeyou will allow me to say how much we all appreciate what you have done,Mr. Brand. I do not think it is possible for any, except ourselves, tounderstand what the loss of worship means to us. It was very strange atfirst---"
His voice trembled a little, and he stopped. Oliver felt interested, andchecked himself in his movement to rise.
"Yes, Mr. Francis?"
The melancholy brown eyes turned on him full.
"It was an illusion, of course, sir--we know that. But I, at any rate,dare to hope that it was not all wasted--all our aspirations andpenitence and praise. We mistook our God, but none the less it reachedHim--it found its way to the Spirit of the World. It taught us that theindividual was nothing, and that He was all. And now---"
"Yes, sir," said the other softly. He was really touched.
The sad brown eyes opened full.
"And now Mr. Felsenburgh is come." He swallowed in his throat. "JulianFelsenburgh!" There was a world of sudden passion in his gentle voice,and Oliver's own heart responded.
"I know, sir," he said; "I know all that you mean."
"Oh! to have a Saviour at last!" cried Francis. "One that can be seenand handled and praised to His Face! It is like a dream--too good to betrue!"
Oliver glanced at the clock, and rose abruptly, holding out his hand.
"Forgive me, sir. I must not stay. You have touched me very deeply.... Iwill speak to Snowford. Your address is here, I understand?"
He pointed to the papers.
"Yes, Mr. Brand. There is one more question."
"I must not stay, sir," said Oliver, shaking his head.
"One instant--is it true that this worship will be c
ompulsory?"
Oliver bowed as he gathered up his papers.
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