When they reached the outer door they found a close carriage drawn
up before the house.
To this Craven Le Noir led Capitola, placed her within and took the
seat by her side. Colonel Le Noir followed and placed himself in the
front seat opposite them. And the carriage was driven rapidly off.
An hour's ride brought the party to an obscure church in the depths
of the forest, which Capitola recognized by the cross on its top to
be a Roman Catholic chapel.
Here the carriage drew up and the two Le Noirs got out and assisted
Capitola to alight.
They then led her into the church, which was dimly illumined by a
pair of wax candles burning before the altar. A priest in his
sacerdotal robes was in attendance. A few country people were
scattered thinly about among the pews, at their private devotions.
Guarded by Craven Le Noir on the right and Colonel Le Noir on the
left, Capitola was marched up the aisle and placed before the altar.
Colonel Le Noir then went and spoke apart to the officiating priest,
saying, in a tone of dissatisfaction:
"I told you, sir, that as our bride was an orphan, recently
bereaved, and still in deep mourning, we wished the marriage
ceremony to be strictly private, and you gave me to understand, sir,
that at this hour the chapel was most likely to be vacant. Yet, here
I find a half a score of people! How is this?"
"Sir," replied the priest, "it is true that at this hour of the
evening the chapel is most likely to be vacant, but it is not
therefore certain to be so! nor did I promise as much! Our chapel
is, as you know, open at all hours of the day and night, that all
who please may come and pray.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129