"And of thy knowledge shall thou one day reap the bitter fruit," he said, in a voice and with a changed manner that intimated a threat.
"I do not fear thee, trusting in a power stronger than thou!"
"Thou wouldst have made a sublime priestess! Indignation but adds dignity to thy beauty, and excitement gives richness to thy cheek, brilliancy to thine eyes, and the haughty curl of thy lip is but the more tempting with its ripe fulness unrolled. By Heaven, I will not be thwarted; I am no mewly boy, to be frightened at a woman's frown. I will clasp thee in my arms, and ravish a kiss from that mouth, which even scorn cannot make less lovely, in punishment for thy pride!"
As he spoke he approached, and was about to clasp her in his embrace, when he received a blow from a mace which felled him to the floor, and the next instant the sorceress was standing above him, with one foot upon his chest.
"Ha, ha, ha! we are well met, Father Nanfan. 'Tis thus thou dost assoilzie the souls of maidens, by first teaching them to sin! Oh, thou hypocrite. But there will be a time! Nay, thou canst not get up," she added, pressing the end of her mace hard upon his forehead as he struggled to rise. "Maiden, I have saved thy lips from pollution! and thou, monster, do I not know thee? Oh, ho! Get thee up and go!"
As she spoke she stepped aside from his body, and he rose to his feet, his countenance black with mingled fury and shame.
"Foul witch, I will have thy life—and thou, haughty lady, shalt not escape me!"
He was passing swiftly, with gestures of vengeance, from the room, when the sorceress laid her hand upon him.
"Beware, I bid thee! Me thou canst not injure! her thou shalt not!"
"Who shall hinder me, woman? I will have thee, ere to-morrow's sun, burned at the stake!"