"You will forego this intention," said Mistress Nutter, with a bitter smile.
The magistrate shook his head.
"I am not easily turned from my purpose," he remarked.
"But you have not yet quitted Rough Lee," said the lady, "and after such an announcement I shall scarce think of parting with you."
"You dare not detain me," replied Nowell. "I have Nicholas Assheton's word for my security, and I know he will not break it. Besides, you will gain nothing by my detention. My absence will soon be discovered, and if living I shall be set free; if dead, avenged."
"That may, or may not be," replied Mistress Nutter; "and in any case I can, if I choose, wreak my vengeance upon you. I am glad to have ascertained your intentions, for I now know how to treat with you. You shall not go hence, except on certain conditions. You have said you will proclaim me a witch, and will come back with sufficient force to accomplish my arrest. Instead of doing this, I advise you to return to Sir Ralph Assheton, and admit to him that you find yourself in error in respect to the boundaries of the land—"
"Never," interrupted Nowell.
"I advise you to do this," pursued the lady, calmly, "and I advise you, also, on quitting this room, to retract all you have uttered to my prejudice, in the presence of Nicholas Assheton and other credible witnesses; in which case I will not only lay aside all feelings of animosity towards you, but will make over to you the whole of the land under dispute, and that without purchase money on your part."
Roger Nowell was of an avaricious nature, and caught at the bait.
"How, madam!" he cried, "the whole of the land mine without payment?"