Etienne left the roof, burning with indignation, suspecting some trick to cheat him of his vengeance.
"Come into this cell," said the soft voice of Lanfranc.
Etienne obeyed.
There lay his young rival, cold and pale. Etienne doubted no longer; death was too palpably stamped upon the face.
"Canst thou forgive now?" said Lanfranc. "His last message was one of forgiveness for thee."
"I know not. An hour ago I thought no power on earth could make me; but we have each suffered wrongs."
"Ye have."
"I do forgive, then; requiescat in pace."
"So shall it be well with thee before God," said the good prelate.
So Wilfred was buried in the vaults of St. Frideswide's church. The Archbishop Lanfranc celebrated the funeral mass. It was noticed with surprise that Bishop Geoffrey absented himself from the function and the subsequent burial rites.