“Water!” moaned Nicholas. “For Christ’s sake give me water!”
“Why should I give you water in payment for your midnight steel yonder in the narrow street? What kind of water was it that you gave Red Eve far away at Blythburgh town?” asked Dick in his hissing voice which sounded like that of an angry snake.
But Hugh, who could bear no more of it, ran down to the courtyard, where he had seen a pitcher standing by a well, and brought water.
“Thank God that you have come again,” said the wretched priest, as he snatched at it, “for I cannot bear to die with this white-faced devil glaring at me,” and he pointed to Grey Dick, who leaned against the chancel wall, his arms folded on his breast, smiling coldly.
Then he drank greedily, Hugh holding the pitcher to his lips, for his wasted arms could not bear its weight.
“Now,” said Hugh, when his thirst was satisfied, “tell me, where is your master, Cattrina?”
“God or the fiend can say alone. When he found that I was smitten with the plague he left me to perish, as did the others.”
“And as we shall do unless you tell me whither my enemy has gone,” and Hugh made as though to leave the place.
The priest clutched at him with his filthy, claw-like hand.
“For Christ’s sake do not desert me,” he moaned. “Let one Christian soul be near me at the last ere the curse of that wizard with the yellow cap is fulfilled on me. For the sake of Jesus, stay! I’ll tell all I know.”