And this is what he read:
"She was told to tell the truth, or orders would be given to strip her. She said, etc. She was commanded to be stripped naked.
"She was told to tell the truth, or orders would be given to cut off her hair. She said, etc.
"Orders were given to cut of her hair; and when it was taken off she was examined by the doctor and surgeon, who said there was not any objection to her being put to the torture.
"She was told to tell the truth or she would be commanded to mount the rack. She said, etc.
"She was commanded to mount, and she said, etc.
"She was told to tell the truth, or her body would be bound. She said, etc. She was ordered to be bound.
"She was told to tell the truth, or, if not, they would order her right foot to be made fast for the trampazo. She said, etc. They commanded it to be made fast.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would command her left foot to be made fast for the trampazo. She said, etc. They commanded it to be made fast. She said, etc. It was ordered to be done.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the binding of the right arm to be stretched. She said, etc. It was commanded to be done. And the same with the left arm. It was ordered to be executed.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the fleshy part of her right arm to be made fast for the garrote. She said, etc. It was ordered to be made fast.
"And by the said lord inquisitor, it was repeated to her many times, that she should tell the truth, and not let herself be brought into so great torment; and the physician and surgeon were called in, who said, etc. And the criminal, etc. And orders were given to make it fast.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the first turn of mancuerda. She said, etc. It was commanded to be done.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would command the garrote to be applied again to the right arm. She said, etc. It was ordered to be done.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the second turn of mancuerda. She said, etc. It was commanded to be done.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the garrote to be applied again to the left arm. She said, etc. It was ordered to be done.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the third turn of mancuerda. She said, etc. It was commanded to be done.
"She was told to tell the truth, or they would order the trampazo to be laid on the right foot. She said, etc. It was commanded to be done.
"For women you do not go beyond this."
Johnnie finished his reading. Then he tore it up into four pieces and flung it out upon the starboard bow.
The yellow parchment fluttered over Madame La Motte's head like great moonlit moths.
Then he turned and stared at Don Pedro, almost as if he would have sprung at him.
"'Tis nothing of mine, Señor," the little man said. "You asked me to tell you, and that I have done. I am no enemy of yours, so look not at me in that way. Here"—he put his hand out and touched John Hull—"here I have a very worthy brother, eke a Master of mine, who will answer for me in all that I do."
The old Frenchwoman began to gather her vast bulk together to descend into the cabin for sleep.
Johnnie helped her to her feet, and as he did so a sweet tenor voice shivered out beneath the bellying sails, and there was the thrid of a lute accompanying it:
"I sail, I sail the Spanish seas,
Hey ho, in the sun and the cloud
To bring fair ladies
Wool to Cadiz,
To deck their bodies that are so proud,
In the ship of St. James a mariner I"....
Suddenly the voice of the singer ceased, shut off into silence.