Lord Ralph sat in the priest's room patiently while the priest read something and then scribbled down on the other paper. He tried to take a look at what he was writing, but the dim light of the lamp didn't allow him. His student who always accompanied him everywhere he went, stood in the corner in silence before the priest called him and handed him the paper he was writing on.
He told him something in hushed voices, and the student bowed before leaving the cottage but not before locking the door behind him.
Now that Ralph finally had the priest's attention, he greeted him respectfully.
"Father! Good evening."
"Good evening, Lord Ralph! Thank you for coming here at such short notice." The old priest smiled softly.
"Don't embarrass me, father. You can ask anything from me. Is everything alright?" Ralph asked, sitting back in his chair across from the priest, who sat on a stone platform.
His smile vanished as his face turned serious.
