CHAPTER 5 _A CRYSTAL BALL_
Pine trees and bushes hung in frozen arches along the winding road whichled to the ancient monastery.
Parking the automobile near the iron boundary fence, Penny was quick tonote that the big ornamental gate now was locked and securely fastenedwith chain and padlock.
"Are you sure this place is occupied?" Mr. Ayling asked as he alightedand followed Penny to the gate. "Why, the property is a wreck!"
"The gate was unlocked last night," the girl replied. "We may havetrouble getting inside."
Pressing her face against the rusty iron spikes, she gazed hopefullytoward the gatehouse. The door was slightly ajar. Winkey, however, wasnowhere to be seen.
Mr. Ayling rattled the gate chain several times.
"No one seems to be around," he said in disappointment.
"Yes, there is!" Penny corrected.
Just then she caught a fleeting glimpse of a face at the tiny circularwindow of the gatehouse. She was convinced it was Winkey, who for somereason, intended to ignore their presence at the gate.
"Let us in!" she called.
"Open up!" shouted Mr. Ayling.
Still there was no rustle of life from the gatehouse.
"Disgusting!" Penny muttered. "I know Winkey is watching us! He's onlybeing contrary!"
Mr. Ayling's angular jaw tightened. "In that case," he said, "we'll haveto get in the best way we can. I'll climb over the fence."
The words purposely were spoken loudly enough to be overheard in thegatehouse. Before the investigator could carry out his threat, the doorof the circular, stone building swung back. Winkey, the hunchback,sauntered leisurely out.
"Want somethin'?" he inquired.
"Didn't you hear us trying to get in?" Mr. Ayling demanded.
"Sure," the hunchback shrugged, "but I was busy fixin' the bell thatconnects with the house. Anyhow, visitors ain't wanted here."
"So we observe," said Mr. Ayling. "Where is your master?"
"Inside."
"Then announce us," the investigator ordered. "We're here to ask a fewquestions."
Winkey's bird-like eyes blinked rapidly. He looked as if about to argue,then changed his mind.
"Go on to the house then," he said crossly. "I'll let 'em know by phoneyou're comin'."
The driveway curled through a large outer courtyard where a cluster ofsmall and interesting buildings stood in various stages of ruin.
Near the gatehouse was the almonry, a shelter used in very early days tohouse visitors who sought free lodging.
Beyond were the ancient brewhouse, bakehouse, and granary. The latter twobuildings now were little more than heaps of fallen brick. None of thestructures was habitable.
In far better state of preservation was the central building with gabledroof and tall hooded chimneys. However, front steps long since had fallenaway from the entrance doorway. Bridging the gap was a short ladder.
"What a place!" commented Mr. Ayling offering Penny his hand to help heracross. "Looks as if it might cave in any day."
The visitors found themselves facing a weather-beaten but beautifullycarved wooden doorway. Before they could knock, it opened on squeakyhinges.
A woman with heavily lined face, who wore a gray gown and white lace cap,peered out at them.
"Go away!" she murmured in a stage whisper. "Go quickly!"
"Julia!" said a voice directly behind her.
The woman whirled around and cringed as a brown-robed monk took herfirmly by the arm.
"Go and light a fire in the parlor, Julia," her master directed. "I willgreet our guests."
"Yes, Father Benedict," the woman muttered, scurrying away.
The master now turned apologetically to the visitors.
"I trust my servant was not rude," he said. "Poor creature! Her twistedmind causes her to believe that all persons who do not dwell within ourwalls are evil and to be feared."
As the monk spoke, he smiled in a kindly, friendly way, yet his keen eyeswere appraising the two visitors. Though it was cold and windy on thedoor step, he did not hasten to invite Penny and Mr. Ayling inside. Hestood holding the half-opened door in his hand.
"You must excuse our lack of hospitality," he said, fingering a goldchain which hung from his thin shoulders. "We have much cleaning andremodeling to do before we are ready to receive visitors."
Mr. Ayling explained that his call was one of business, adding that herepresented the Barnes Mutual Insurance Co.
"Such matters must be discussed with me later," the monk said, slowly butfirmly closing the door.
"I'm not selling insurance," Mr. Ayling assured him. Deliberately heleaned against the jamb, preventing the monk from shutting the door.
Father Benedict bit his lip in annoyance. "May I inquire your businesswith me?" he asked frostily.
"I'm seeking to trace a client--Mrs. Nathaniel Hawthorne."
"I know of no such person. Deeply I regret that I cannot help you, sir.If you will excuse me--"
"The woman may have used an assumed name," Mr. Ayling cut in. "She has aweakness--er, I mean a liking for cult practices."
"You are suggesting this woman may have joined my little flock?"
"That's the general idea."
"Absurd!" The monk's gaze rested briefly on Penny as he added: "I greatlyfear you have been led astray by loose gossip as to the nature of theorder I am founding here."
"I told Mr. Ayling about your work because I think it's so interesting,"Penny said quickly. She slapped her mittened hands together. "My, it'scold today! May we warm ourselves at your fire before we start back totown?"
A frown puckered Father Benedict's eyebrows. Plainly the requestdispleased him. But with a show of hospitality, he said:
"Our abode is very humble and poorly furnished. Such as it is, you arewelcome." Bowing slightly, he stepped aside to admit the visitors.
Penny and Mr. Ayling found themselves in a long, barren, and very coldhallway.
"Follow me, please," bade the monk.
Moving on the bare boards with noiseless tread, he led them through anarched doorway cut in the thick wall, across a wind-swept pillaredcloister and into a parlor where a fire burned brightly in a huge,time-blackened fireplace.
The sheer comfort of the room surprised Penny. Underfoot was a thickvelvet carpet. Other furnishings included a large mahogany desk, a sofa,two easy chairs, and a cabinet filled with fine glassware, gold andsilver objects, and a blue glass decanter of wine.
Black velvet curtains were draped in heavy folds over an exit door, andsimilar hangings covered the windows. To Penny's astonishment, theceiling, painted black, was studded with silver stars.
However, the object which held her roving gaze was a large crystal ballsupported on the claws of a bronze dragon.
"You are a crystal gazer!" Mr. Ayling exclaimed as he too noted thecurious globe.
"I have the power to read the future with reasonable accuracy," repliedthe monk. He dismissed the subject with a shrug, motioning for his gueststo seat themselves before the fire.
"You spoke of searching for a Mrs. Rosenthorne--" he remarked, addressingthe investigator.
"Mrs. Hawthorne," corrected Mr. Ayling.
"To be sure, Mrs. Hawthorne. Apparently you were under themisapprehension that she is in some way connected with thisestablishment."
"It was only a hope. My client has a deep interest in cults. I tracedMrs. Hawthorne and her granddaughter to Riverview, and thought possiblythey might have been attracted to your place."
"My little flock is limited to only twelve members at present. All arevery humble people who have sworn to live a life of poverty, devoted tocharity and faith. We have no Mrs. Hawthorne here."
"Mightn't she have given another name?" suggested Penny. She stretchedher cold fingers to the leaping flames on the hearth.
"I hardly think so." Father Benedict's lips curled in a superior smile."Describe
the woman, please."
Mr. Ayling repeated the description Penny had heard earlier thatafternoon.
"We have no such person here," the monk said. "I regret I am unable tohelp you."
He arose, a plain hint that he considered the brief interview at an end.Somewhat reluctantly, Penny and her companion also turned their backsupon the crackling fire.
"You have made a comfortable place of this room," the girl said. Her gazefastened admiringly upon a porcelain decanter in a wall cabinet. "Andsuch interesting antiques!"
For the first time since the visitors had arrived, Father Benedict's eyessparkled with warmth.
"Collecting art treasures is a hobby of mine," he revealed. Crossing tothe cabinet, he removed the decanter.
"This is a piece of Ching-Hoa porcelain and very rare," he said. "Andhere is a Byzantine amulet--priceless. The golden goblets came from aEuropean church destroyed a century ago."
"You're not afraid to keep such treasures in the monastery?" Mr. Aylinginquired.
"Afraid?" Father Benedict's dark eyes glittered with a strange light. "Imust confess I know not the meaning of the word."
"You are so far out, I don't suppose you can expect much policeprotection," Mr. Ayling added.
"Winkey, my gateman, is quite dependable. While he is on duty, no thiefor unwanted stranger will enter our grounds."
"Winkey is good at keeping folks out," agreed the investigator dryly. Inwalking toward the door, he paused to gaze again at the crystal ball.
"My glass interests you?" inquired the monk.
"I've seen those things before, but never took stock in them," rejoinedMr. Ayling. "One can't actually conjure up pictures by gazing into thatglobe?"
"Would you care to see for yourself?"
"Well, it's a little out of my line," Mr. Ayling laughed.
"I'd like to try it!" cried Penny. "May I?"
"Certainly. The principle is very simple. One merely gazes deeply intothe glass until the optic nerve of the eye becomes fatigued. As it ceasesto transmit impression from without, one sees events of the future."
"I've heard it explained a little differently," said Mr. Ayling. "As theoptic nerve becomes paralyzed, it responds to the reflex actionproceeding from the brain of the crystal gazer. One sees what one wishesto see."
"I do not agree!" Father Benedict's voice was sharp. "The ball accuratelyforetells the future. Shall we test and prove its powers?"
"Let me try it!" pleaded Penny again.
Smiling a bit grimly, the monk extinguished an overhead light and toucheda match to the wick of two tall white candles.
Placing the crystal ball in front of a black screen, he set the burningtapers at either side. Penny suddenly began to lose zest for theadventure.
But before she could think of a graceful way to announce that she hadchanged her mind, the monk took her firmly by the arm.
"Place your hands on either side of the crystal ball," he directed. "Gazedeep into the glass. Deep--deep. And now my little one, what do you see?"