After this for a long while he remained silent, till I began to think that perhaps the end had come. At last, without opening his eyes, he said slowly—
"Little Maud—she was the only one of that set who ever trusted me. Somehow I'd like her to have a share of that money. Ramsay, I know you love her still; you must marry her after all."
"It's too late," I groaned; "too late."
"No, no, I have a conviction that you will win her yet. Try. Swear you will!"
I swore!
For a minute or two only the sighing of the wind through the trees and the crackling of the fire was to be heard. Then that weary voice began again—
"Ramsay, it's a strange request for a man like me to make, but d'you know, if you could manage to scramble out some sort of a prayer I believe I should die easier."
Like a flash my memory flew back across the waste of years, and once more I was a tiny chap worshipping at my mother's knee. With a great awe upon me I knelt and commenced the Lord's Prayer. When I had finished he slowly repeated the last few words, "For ever and ever, Amen."
Then a wonderful thing happened. He raised his head, and, as he did so, his eyes, which had hitherto been shut, opened wide, and his voice came from him quite clear and strong. It was a grander and a nobler voice than I had ever expected to hear. He said—
"My Lord, I urge nothing in my own defence; I simply throw myself upon the mercy of the Court."