The Miracle at St. Bruno's

"Damask," he said, "you must know that when a man is judged a traitor and is executed there are occasions when his worldly possessions are confiscated by the King who may take them for himself or divert them to someone he considers is deserving of them.”

"You are telling me," I said, "that the King has not only robbed my father of his head but has taken his estates as well.”

"That is what I understand, Damask.”

"So... I am homeless.”

"It is not quite as desperate as that. A certain amount of leniency has been shown in your father's case." He added with a cynicism which he did not seem to realize, "It is not as though his estates were so very large... by the King's standards, that is.”

"Please tell me what has happened.”

Lord Remus hesitated. He coughed. "It's a little delicate," he said, "but I have been asked to break this to you and so must I. You should not think that your father's house will no longer be your home. Simon Caseman has made that clear. There is always to be a home for you there.”

"Simon Caseman!" I cried. "What is this to him?”

"The King's officers have decided to bestow your father's house on him.”

"But why?”

"He has lived with your family. He has been your father's right-hand man in business.”

"But... if it is decided to take my father's estate from those to whom it belongs... my mother and myself... why not to Rupert who is related to us?”

Lord Remus looked uneasy. "My dear Damask, to leave it to a relative would not be to confiscate it from the family. The King wishes to reward Simon Caseman and this is his way of doing it.”

"Why should the King wish to reward Simon Caseman? He has worked with my father.

I should have thought he might have been suspect since he lived in that house of iniquity.”

"There has been an investigation of the case. Simon Caseman has said that he is eager to marry....”

"No," I cried. "That can't be.”

Lord Remus went on as though I had not spoken. "He is eager to marry your mother and this will solve a difficulty. Neither you nor your mother will be homeless although, in accordance with his right, the King has deprived your father and his heirs of their possessions.”

I stared at him. "My mother to marry Simon Caseman?”

"In a reasonable time... not immediately. It seems a good arrangement.”

I could not believe it. It seemed incredible to me. My mother to marry this man who but a short time ago had been pleading with me to marry him.

It was like a nightmare; and then the light began to dawn on me. I saw his face in my mind-the fox's mask exaggerated and I heard my father's voice: "Someone in the house has betrayed me.”

Kate came bursting into my room.

"I wondered where you were. I couldn't imagine why you didn't come down. What's the matter?”

I said, "I have just heard that our house now belongs to Simon Caseman and that he is going to marry my mother.”

"Remus told me," she said.

"Oh, Kate, do you realize what this means? He planned it. The King wished to reward him. For what? Mayhap for informing against my father and Amos Carmen?”

Kate stared at me in disbelief.

"You can't mean that.”

"Something within me tells me that it could be true.”

"Then he would be your father's murderer.”

"If I could be sure of that I would kill him.”

"No, Damask, it can't be.”

"It fits, Kate. He asked me to marry him. He has asked me several times. Does he love me? No, he wanted my inheritance.”

"That may be so, but a man is not a murderer for wishing to make a good marriage.”

"I refused, and he took this opportunity of betraying my father.”

"How can you know that?”

"Because someone in the house betrayed him and who but Simon Caseman?”

"You jump to conclusions.”

"You forget he will have my father's estates. That is what he always wanted. That was why he asked me to marry him. Oh, I knew it was the fox's mask I saw there on his face.”

"Fox's mask. What nonsense is this?”

"I saw it on his face. When his face is in shadow it is there. His eyes are tawny like a fox's. He is a sly fox who came in to rob the hen roost.”

"Do you feel all right, Damask? This has all been too much for you.”

"And I have lost my senses!" I cried. "That's what you think. But did you know that my mother is going to marry him?”

"Remus has just told me it is so.”

Kate stared at me incredulously.

"I must go home at once," I said.

When I arrived at the house it seemed very quiet. I was not expected so there was no one to greet me. The house seemed different. Of course it was different. It was a house in mourning. It had a new master now.

I went up to my mother's stillroom. She was there and when she saw me she flushed as red as the reddest of her roses. She knew that I was aware of what she was preparing to do and I was glad to see that she could show some shame.

"I have heard, Madam," I said.