"PraisedbetheLord,"saidthepriestandplacedthedlestithetable.Goldmundmurmuredtherespoaringstraightahead.

    Thepriestsaidnothiedandsaidnothing,untilGoldmundgrewrestlessandsearglyraisedhiseyestothemaninfrontofhim.

    Thisman,henowsawtohisfusion,wasnotonlywearingthehabitofthefathersofMariabronn,healsoworetheinsigniaoftheofficeofAbbot.

    AndnowhelookedintotheAbbotsface.Itwasabonyface,firmly,clearlycut,withverythinlips.Itwasafaceheknew.Asthoughspellbound,Goldmundlookedintothisfacethatseemedpletelyformedbymindandwill.Withunsteadyhandhereachedforthedlestick,lifteditaclosertothestraoseehiseyes.Hesawthemandthedlestickshookinhishandasheputitbathetable.

    "Narcissus!"hewhisperedalmostinaudibly.Thecellarbegantospinaroundhim.

    "Yes,Goldmund,IusedtobeNarcissus,butIabahatnamealongtimeago;youveprobablyfotten.SihedayItookthevows,mynamehasbeenJohn."

    Goldmundwasshakentotherootsofhisbeing.Thewholeworldhadged,andthesuddencollapseofhissuperhumaneffortthreateochokehim.Hetrembled;dizzinessmadehisheadfeellikeaybladder;hisstomatracted.Behindhiseyessomethingburnedlikescaldingsobs.Heloosinkintohimself,todissolveintears,tofaint.

    Butawarningrosefromthedepthsofthememoriesofhisyouth,thememoriesthatthesightofNarcissushadjuredup:once,asaboy,hehadcried,hadlethimselfgoinfrontofthisbeautiful,strictface,thesedarkomnisteyes.Hecouldhatagain.Likeaghost,Narcissushadreappearedatthestramomentofhislife,probablytosavehislife—andnowhewasabouttobreakint