The Miracle at St. Bruno's

"Do not talk of justice, I pray you. What is happening in this place? How is it that you have rebuilt it as you have? Do you think I do not know? Do you think you can draw the wool over my eyes with your talk of miracles? Miracles forsooth! It is clear indeed from what quarter came your wealth.”

I saw that Bruno had turned pale. He was very uneasy.

"Yes," cried Simon Caseman, "I know full well. Where does the money come from to build a fine Abbey to gather together your monks and lay brothers? Where indeed.

From the enemies of England. From Spain and Rome, that is where the money comes from.”

"You lie!" cried Bruno.

"Then if it is a lie, where? Answer that, Bruno Kingsman. Saint Bruno... answer that. From whence came the money to rebuild the Abbey, eh? To start everything in motion, eh? Are you going to tell me it comes from the profit of the farm? I would not believe you. Great riches have been showered on this place and I am asking you whence they came. That is all I want to know.”

The singing in the church had ceased. I saw the figures of the men within the church hovering not far from the porch.

"Lie to me if you wish!" cried Simon Caseman, his face working with passion. "You won't deceive me. I know. I have always known. The money came from Spain and Rome.

It comes from our country's enemies. It comes from those who would bring the Pope back as Supreme Head of the Church against the laws of this land.”

"You lie," cried Bruno.

"Then where, eh? Whence came the money to build this place? How much has been spent on it? Who has such money... apart from His Majesty the King and the richest families in the land? Tell us this, Bruno, Saint Bruno... weaver of miracles, tell us!

Did it come from on high? Was it poured into your coffers from heaven?”

"Yes," answered Bruno soberly.

Simon Caseman burst into loud laughter. "You would call it from heaven since it comes from Spain. I and many with me would call it treason.”

There was a hush in the porch at the mention of that dreaded word.

Then Bruno said: "Get you gone from here. We have no need of your kind.”

"Indeed you have not. You would not find me breaking the law of the land. This is meant to be the beginning of the restoration of the monasteries. I know there are such schemes afoot. They come from Rome and Spain... where your masters are. Think not that I shall allow this treason to continue.”

Bruno went back into the church. I drew back into the shadows and Simon Caseman walked past me. I had never seen such a look of set determination in his face. I thought: Tomorrow he will inform on us. Perhaps by tomorrow night Bruno will be in the Tower.

Then my thoughts went to the girls and I wondered what would become of them.

I ran after Simon Caseman.

He heard my footsteps and turned slowly.

"So?" he said.

"What are you going to do?”

"My duty.”

"I believe it will not be the first time you have informed.”

He pretended to misunderstand. "It may not be the last, mayhap. I am a dutiful man.”

"Particularly when there is much to be gained.”

"Gained? What should I gain?”

"Revenge.”

"You are dramatic, my dear Damask." His eyes surveyed me and I remembered that I had only my nightgown under my cloak.

I felt very frightened and that made me reckless, I suppose.

"Is revenge as satisfying as a fine house which you had no hope of attaining while my father was alive?”

"What has that to do with this?”

"A similar situation. You did your gainful duty once before, did you not?”

He was silent, taken aback; and I was certain then that I stood lace to face with my father's murderer for that is what his betrayer would always be to me.

'I know," I said, "that you informed against my father. You murderer.”

'Is this the way to talk to one who has your life in his hands?”

"I would not think that life worth having if I were not true to myself.”

"You are a firebrand, Damask. You always were. What a reckless little fool! You might have had so much. But you chose him.... Is he a man or is he an idol? We shall soon see. He should hang well.”

"You have made up your mind to inform against him as you did against my father.”

"Your father?”

"Don't try to deceive me further, Simon Caseman. My father took you into his house.

You had nothing of your own. All you had was envy, greed, and a sad lack of principles.

You had selfishness, wickedness, ingratitude...”

"In fact I was a very sinful fellow.”

"For once you have spoken the truth. You are my father's murderer, Simon Caseman.

You wanted his possessions.”

"I wanted his daughter, I admit. And the fact is that even when she rants and raves I still do.”

"How dare you!”

"As you dare my reckless beauty. Here is the man who can have you all carried off to the Tower before another day has passed... and you dare abuse him.”

"I would abuse you with my dying breath. Have you ever loved a father?”

"I never knew mine so that was beyond me.”