"Yes, your reverence. He lies on the floor of his cell, his hands clasped and his limbs composed as if he had died in sleep. On the wall at his head these words are written: 'I know in whom I have believed.'"
"Thank God!" exclaimed Jack fervently. "He hath won his eternal crown of glory, and hath escaped the malice of his enemies! The Lord be praised, who hath not delivered him over as a prey to their teeth. The snare is broken, and he is delivered. Thank God!"
"He hath escaped an earthly only to sink into an eternal fire," said Father Barnaby sternly; "but we have you still. I am willing to show mercy, and I promise you your life shall be spared, if you will recant your errors, and confess the names of your seducers. Otherwise, in three hours' time, namely at noon, you shall burn at the pile prepared for your uncle."
"I am in God's power, not in yours," returned Jack steadily. "He can yet deliver me out of your hands, but if not, know that I will not bow down to your idols nor deny His truth."
At this moment there was a knock at the chamber door, and a monk entered.
"What now, brother?" asked the prior.
"Here is the bishop's sumner and two other men, who have ridden express with a letter from the bishop to Father Barnaby," returned the brother. "He will deliver it into the reverend father's own hands."
"Bid him come in," was the reply, and the sumner or summoner entered, a stout, good-natured looking man, whose air and complexion savored more of the alehouse than of the church. Father Barnaby opened the letter which was presented to him, and as he did so a look of intense vexation and annoyance passed over his face. He crushed the letter in his hand, and then as if recollecting himself, he smoothed it out once more and restored it to the cover. The prior cast an inquiring glance at him.
"It is from the bishop himself," said Father Barnaby, in a low tone. "The peevish old man hath taken great umbrage at my proceeding in this matter without consulting him, and requires me to send young Lucas at once to him, that he or his chaplain may examine him in person."
"Umph!" returned the prior, evidently not at all sorry to be rid of his own share in the business. "So much the better. We shall be well rid of him. But had you not consulted the bishop, brother?"