“Did you persuade the priest?” inquired the bishop mildly.
She looked at him in startled wonder, then again her head sank upon her bosom and only the bishop, her husband, and magistrate heard the scarcely audible answer.
“Yes.”
The hand of the bishop trembled as he held it before his lips; again he looked over at Tai Lin, who momentarily sat as one strangling, then rising, overturned the table before him and passed half down the hall. Suddenly he stopped, clutched at his throat, and would have fallen had not those near took hold of him and half carrying, dragged him from the hall of his fathers.
The magistrate turned to the bishop.
“Does he mean that?”
“Yes.”
“Then she shall be given the silken scarf that she may die in the seclusion of——”
“Is that according to his complaint? Is that in accordance with the law?”
“What! You would not——”