The monk gave a start, and seemed to rouse himself from a dream.

"Pardon me," he said, gently; "I am growing an old man, and I have had much to bear. I spoke without thought. Let me tell you the story of Dino's death."

As far as he knew it, as far as he guessed it, he told the story. And when Brian uttered some strong ejaculation of anger and grief at its details, Father Cristoforo bowed his head upon his breast, folded his hands, and sighed.

"I was wrong," he said. "You do well to rebuke me, my son; for I was wrong."

"You were hard, you were cruel," said Brian, vehemently.

"Yes, I was hard; I was cruel. But I am punished. The light of my eyes has been taken from me. I have lost the son that I loved."

"You will see him again," said Elizabeth, softly. "You will go to him some day."

"The saints grant it. I fear that I may not be worthy. To him the high places will be given; to me--to me----But he will pray for me."

Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. The old man's form was bent; his face was shrunken, his eyes were dim. As she rightly guessed, it was the sorrow of Dino's death that had aged him in this way.

Brian spoke next.

"Tell me," he said, "tell me for the last time, father, what you believe to have been the truth of the story. Did Vincenza change the children, or did she not?"

"My son," said the old monk, "a few months--nay, a few weeks ago, I said to myself that I would never answer that question. But life is slipping away from me; and I cannot leave the world with even the shadow of a lie upon my lips. When I sent Dino to England, I believed that Vincenza had done this thing. When Dino returned to us, I still believed that he was Mrs. Luttrell's son. But since our Dino's death, I have had a message--a solemn message--from the persons who saw Vincenza die. She had charged them with her last breath to tell me that the story was false--that the children were never changed at all. It was Mrs. Luttrell's delusion that suggested the plan to her. She hoped that she might make money by declaring that you were her son, and Dino, Mrs. Luttrell's. She swore on her death-bed that Dino was her child, and that it was Lippo Vasari who was buried in the churchyard of San Stefano."

"Which story are we to believe?" said Brian, almost doubtingly.

"The evidence is pretty evenly balanced," replied the Prior. "Believe the one that suits you best."

Brian did not answer; he stood for a moment with his head bent and his eyes fixed on the ground. "To think," he said at last, "of the misery that we have suffered through--a lie!" Then he looked up, and met Elizabeth's eyes. "You are right," he said, as if answering some unspoken comment, "I have no reason to complain. I found Dino--and I found you; a friend and a wife--I thank God for them both."

He took her hand in his, and his face was lit up with the look of love that was henceforth, as hitherto, to make the happiness of his life and hers.

And when they went forth from the monastery doors it seemed to them a good omen that the last words echoing in their ears were those of the old monk's farewell salutation:--

"Go in peace!"

THE END.

BOOKS TO READ.

CANADIAN COPYRIGHT SERIES.

15. Little Lord Fauntleroy. By Frances H. Burnett

16. The Frozen Pirate. By W. Clark Russell

17. Jo's Boys, and How They Turned Out. By Louisa M. Alcott

18. Saddle and Sabre. By Hawley Smart

19. A Prince of the Blood. By James Payn

20. An Algonquin Maiden. By G. Mercer Adam and A. Ethelwyn Wetherald

21. One Traveller Returns. By David Christie Murray and H. Hermann

22. Stained Pages; The Story of Anthony Grace. By G. Manville Fenn

23. Lieutenant Barnabas. By Frank Barrett

24. The Nun's Curse. By Mrs. J. H. Riddell

25. The Twin Soul. By Charles Mackay

26. One Maid's Mischief. By G. M. Fenn

27. A Modern Magician. By J. F. Molloy

28. A House of Tears. By E. Downey

29. Sara Crewe and Editha's Burglar. By Frances H. Burnett

30. The Abbey Murder. By Joseph Hatton

31. The Argonauts of North Liberty. By Bret Harte

32. Cradled in a Storm. By T. A. Sharp

33. A Woman's Face. By Florence Warden

34. Miracle Gold. By Richard Dowling

35. Molloy's Story. By Frank Merryfield

36. The Fortunes of Philippa Fairfax. By Frances H. Burnett

37. The Silent Shore, or The Mystery of St James' Park. By John Bloundelle-Burton

38. Eve. By S. Baring Gould

39. Doctor Glennie's Daughter. By B. L. Farjeon

40. The Case of Doctor Plemen. By Rene de Pont-Jest

41. Bewitching Iza. By Alexis Bouvier