The Curse Upon Mitre Square — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE STOLEN MEETING. 23 , their scrutiny? They went home and pondered - over these things, and concluded to warn the Prior, and after discussing the best means of doing so, decided that the meeting of the monk in the church of St. Catherine Cree should be told, but no mention made of the strange man, as it might bring trouble | upon them. In such fashion, and not very intelligibly stated, this meeting was a day or two afterwards made known to Nicholas Handcock, and for a time caused him grave anxiety. The forty monks were as- sembled together and questioned. Handcock in- formed them that one of the number was reported .to have entered the neighbouring church under circumstances such as would bring disgrace and scandal on them all. The wrong-doer was earnestly exhorted to confess, in order that further trouble might be avoided. The monks looked grave and troubled at the news. ‘Their feeling of security left them. Was it possible that they harboured a black sheep among them? ‘They could not believe it ; each was so earnest and attentive to his duties. After awhile, however, their suspicion rested on Martin, for no especial reason except that, being the youngest and least known, he was most hable to err. As usual, the Prior refused to suspect his favourite, and forbade the monks to harass Martin with their questions, and thus to the folly of one man and the curiosity of another were to be traced the ghastly tragedies which so soon occurred. GOmicboo CS (Elo) ml