"Forgive thee what?"
"In my revenge, I robbed thee of thy son and brought him up as my own."
"But Sexwulf swore that the lad was his grandson."
"He believed it. I wilfully deceived him; but the old nurse Judith has the proofs—a ring with thy crest, a lock of maiden's hair."
"Good God! they were his mother's, and hung about his little neck when we lost him. Man, how couldst thou?"
"Thou didst slay all mine, and I made thee feel like pangs. And when the boy came to me after his deadly breach with thee, although I had forgiven thee, I could not tell him the truth, lest I should send him to be a murderer like unto thee; but I did my best for him. I sent him to the Holy Wars, and——"
He discovered that he spake but to the empty air.
Brian was gone.
A crowd was on the green sward of the castle, which filled the interior between the buildings. In the centre rose a scaffold, whereon was the instrument of death, the block, the axe. A priest stood by the side of the victim, and soothed him with holy rite and prayer. The executioner leant on his axe.