Viviana shook her head.
“You refuse to give up the names of your companions, or to reveal their intentions?” continued the Earl.
“I do,” she answered, firmly.
“Your obstinacy will not save them,” rejoined the Earl, in a severe tone, and after a brief pause. “Their names and their atrocious designs are known to us.”
“If such be the case,” replied Viviana, “why interrogate me on the subject?”
“Because—but it is needless to give a reason for the course which justice requires me to pursue,” returned the Earl. “You are implicated in this plot, and nothing can save you from condign punishment but a frank and full confession.
“Nothing can save me then, my lord,” replied Viviana; “but Heaven knows I shall perish unjustly.”
A consultation was then held by the lords of the council, who whispered together for a few minutes. Viviana regarded them anxiously, but suffered no expression of uneasiness to escape her. As they again turned towards her, she saw from their looks, some of which exhibited great commiseration for her, that they had come to a decision (she could not doubt what) respecting her fate. Her heart stopped beating, and she could scarcely support herself. Such, however, was the control she exercised over herself that, though filled with terror, her demeanour remained unaltered. She was not long kept in suspense. Fixing his searching gaze upon her, the Earl of Salisbury observed in a severe tone,
“Viviana Radcliffe, I ask you for the last time whether you will avow the truth?”
No answer was returned.