"Thou wilt plead for life?"
"Nay, as God hears me, I will not live dishonored. Life is naught to me without the lady. I swear to thee——"
"You have given me your word before, sir," said the old man sternly.
"On this cross—it was my mother's," he pulled from his doublet the silver crucifix and held it up. "I will yield my life into your hands without question then, and acclaim before the world that you are justified in taking it. Believe me——"
"Thou didst betray me once."
"But not this time. Before God—by Christ, His Mother, by my own mother, dead upon the sands, by all that I have hoped for, by my salvation, I swear if I survive the day I will go gladly to my death at your command!"
"I will trust you once more, thus far. Say naught of this to any one. Leave me!"
"Your Excellency," cried the young man, kneeling before him, "may God reward you!"
He strove to take the hand of the old man, but the latter drew it away.
"Even the touch of forsworn lips is degradation. You have your orders. Go!"