第20章

"What the deuce," said he, wonderingly, "is old Bell doing here?

Tommy, it surely can't be he! Never heard of Bell having a turn for the religious.Fact is, I've heard him say things when a four-in-hand didn't seem to tie up just right that would bring him up for court-martial before any church.""It's Bell, without a doubt," said Eyres, firmly, "or I'm pretty badly in need of an oculist.But think of Johnny Bellchambers, the Royal High Chancellor of swell togs and the Mahatma of pink teas, up here in cold storage doing penance in a snuff-colored bathrobe! I can't get it straight in my mind.Let's ask the jolly old boy that's doing honors."Brother Cristofer was appealed to for information.By that time the monks had passed into the refectory.He could not tell to which one they referred.Bellchambers? Ah, the brothers of St.

Gondrau abandoned their worldly names when they took the vows.

Did the gentlemen wish to speak with one of the brothers? If they would come to the refectory and indicate the one they wished to see, the reverend abbot in authority would, doubtless, permit it.

Eyres and Gilliam went into the dining hall and pointed out to Brother Cristofer the man they had seen.Yes, it was Johnny Bellchambers.They saw his face plainly now, as he sat among the dingy brothers, never looking up, eating broth from a coarse, brown bowl.

Permission to speak to one of the brothers was granted to the two travelers by the abbot, and they waited in a reception room for him to come.When he did come, treading softly in his sandals, both Eyres and Gilliam looked at him in perplexity and astonishment.

It was Johnny Bellchambers, but he had a different look.Upon his smooth-shaven face was an expression of ineffable peace, of rapturous attainment, of perfect and complete happiness.His form was proudly erect, his eyes shone with a serene and gracious light.

He was as neat and well-groomed as in the old New York days, but how differently was he clad! Now he seemed clothed in but a single garment--a long robe of rough brown cloth, gathered by a cord at the waist, and falling in straight, loose folds nearly to his feet.He shook hands with his visitors with his old ease and grace of manner.If there was any embarrassment in that meeting it was not manifested by Johnny Bellchambers.The room had no seats;they stood to converse.

"Glad to see you, old man," said Eyres, somewhat awkwardly.

"Wasn't expecting to find you up here.Not a bad idea though, after all.Society's an awful sham.Must be a relief to shake the giddy whirl and retire to--er--contemplation and--er--prayer and hymns, and those things.

"Oh, cut that, Tommy," said Bellchambers, cheerfully."Don't be afraid that I'll pass around the plate.I go through these thing-um-bobs with the rest of these old boys because they are the rules.I'm Brother Ambrose here, you know.I'm given just ten minutes to talk to you fellows.That's rather a new design in waistcoats you have on, isn't it, Gilliam? Are they wearing those things on Broadway now?""It's the same old Johnny," said Gilliam, joyfully."What the devil--I mean why-- Oh, confound it! what did you do it for, old man?""Peel the bathrobe," pleaded Eyres, almost tearfully, "and go back with us.The old crowd'll go wild to see you.This isn't in your line, Bell.I know half a dozen girls that wore the willow on the quiet when you shook us in that unaccountable way.Hand in your resignation, or get a dispensation, or whatever you have to do to get a release from this ice factory.You'll get catarrh here, Johnny--and-- My God! you haven't any socks on!"

Bellchambers looked down at his sandaled feet and smiled.

"You fellows don't understand," he said, soothingly."It's nice of you to want me to go back, but the old life will never know me again.I have reached here the goal of all my ambitions.I am entirely happy and contented.Here I shall remain for the remainder of my days.You see this robe that I wear?"Bellchambers caressingly touched the straight-hanging garment:

"At last I have found something that will not bag at the knees.Ihave attained--"

At that moment the deep boom of the great brass bell reverberated through the monastery.It must have been a summons to immediate devotions, for Brother Ambrose bowed his head, turned and left the chamber without another word.A slight wave of his hand as he passed through the stone doorway seemed to say a farewell to his old friends.They left the monastery without seeing him again.

And this is the story that Tommy Eyres and Lancelot Gilliam brought back with them from their latest European tour.