Then he looked keenly at Fay.
"And you have come to me to ask me to advise you how to set Michael and yourself free?"
"Yes," whispered Fay.
"It was time to come."
There was a short silence.
"And you understand, my dear, dear child, that you can only rescue Michael by taking heavy blame upon yourself, blame first of all for having a clandestine meeting with him, and then blame for letting him sacrifice himself for your good name, and lastly blame for keeping an innocent man in prison so long."
The Bishop took her lifeless hands in his, and held them. He made her meet his eyes. Stern, tender, unflinching eyes they were, with a glint of tears in them.
"You are willing to bear the cross, and endure the shame?" he said.
Two large tears gathered in Fay's wide eyes, and rolled down her bloodless cheeks.