The judges allowed him time to follow the funeral prayer to its close. In the meantime others were preparing a pile of wood.
“Oh!” cried the priest, beholding these preparations with growing terror; “would you have the cruelty to kill me thus?”
“No,” replied his inflexible accuser, “flames are the death of martyrs; you are not worthy of such a death. Apostate, the hour has come!”
“Oh, my God! my God!” cried the priest, raising his arms to heaven.
“Stand up!” said the Chouan.
The priest tried to obey, but his strength failed him, and he fell again to his knees.
“Will you let that murder be done before your eyes?” Roland asked Cadoudal.
“I said that I washed my hands of it,” replied the latter.
“Pilate said that, and Pilate’s hands are to this day red with the blood of Jesus Christ.”
“Because Jesus Christ was a righteous man; this man is a Barabbas.”