"Smith, Wilbur - Courtney 02 - Monsoon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith Wilbur)

1668. Although his mortal remains lie on the far and savage African
shore, his memory lives for ever in the heart of his son, Henry
Courtney, and in the hearts of all the brave and faithful seamen who
voyaged the Ocean Sea under his command."

"How can Father set an empty coffin here? Tom murmured.

"I think perhaps that he intends one day to fetch back Grandfather's
body," Guy answered.

Tom shot him a sharp glance.

"Did he tell you that?" He was jealous that his brother had been told
something that he, the elder, had not. All the boys worshipped their
father.

"No, he didn't," admitted Guy, "but it's what I would do for my
father." Tom lost interest in the discussion and strode out into the
centre of the open floor, which was inlaid with a weird circular design
in granites and marbles of many different colours. Brass cauldrons
were set at the four points of the circle, which would hold the ancient
elements of fire and earth, air and water, when the Temple of the Order
of St. George and the Holy Grail was convened at the full moon of the
summer equinox. Sir Henry Courtney was a Nautonnier Knight of the
order, as had been his father and his grandfather before him.

In the centre of the domed roof of the crypt there was an airhole open
to the sky above. The building was so cunningly laid out that, through
this opening, the rays of the full moon would strike the design on the
stone floor under Tom's feet where the cryptic legend of the order was
inlaid in black marble: "In Arcadia habito." Neither of the boys had
yet learned the deeper meaning of this heraldic device.

Tom stood upon the black Gothic letters, placed his hand over his heart
and began to recite the liturgy with which he, too, would one day be
inducted into the order.

"These things I believe, and I will defend them with my life. I
believe there is but one God in Trinity, the Father eternal, the Son
eternal and the Holy Ghost eternal."

"Amen!" cried Guy softly. They had both studied the catechism of the
order assiduously and knew the hundred responses by heart.

"I believe in the communion of the Church of England, and the divine
right of its representative on earth, William the Third, King of
England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith."

"Amen!"