But what amazed me most was the man who carried her.

I had looked for Peter Stoupe to a certainty; but instead of him I saw the taller of the two priests whom I had passed only that morning on the way to the convent.

The delusion lasted only a moment.

For as he turned his head, I saw beneath the cowl the well-known, cadaverous, hungry visage of my masquerading 'prentice, and knew that I was right after all.
He flung his senseless burden to the ground with a curse, and was turning to the horse, when I stepped out, sword in hand, and faced him.
I gave him no time for parley or excuse.

I heeded not the yell he sent up as he saw who I was, and felt nothing of the one savage blow he aimed at me with his knife.