"What?" he exclaimed, rushing towards him. "Is it thou, villain?"
The sufferer only replied by a look of intense malignity.
"Eh! what—d'ye ken wha it is?" demanded James. "By my saul! I fear the puir fellow has maist of his banes broken."
"No great matter if they be," replied Nicholas, "and it may save the application of torture in case your Majesty desires to put any question to him. Chance has most strangely thrown into your hands one of the most heinous offenders in the kingdom, who has long escaped justice, but who will at length meet the punishment of his crimes. The villain is Christopher Demdike, son of the foul hag who perished in the flames on the summit of Pendle Hill, and captain of a band of robbers."
"What! is the knave a warlock and a riever?" demanded James, regarding Demdike with abhorrence, mingled with alarm.
"Both, sire," replied Nicholas, "and an assassin to boot. He is a diabolical villain."
"Let him be taken to Hoghton Tower, and kept in some strong and secure place till we have leisure to examine him," said James,—"and see that he be visited by some skilful chirurgeon, for we wadna hae him dee, and sae rob the woodie."
Demdike, who appeared to be in great agony, now forced himself to speak.
"I can make important disclosures to your Majesty," he said, in hoarse and broken tones, "if you will hear them. I am not the only offender who has escaped from justice," he added, glancing vindictively at Nicholas—"there is another, a notorious witch and murderess, who is still screened from justice. I can reveal her hiding-place."
"Your Majesty will not give heed to such a villain's fabrications?" said Nicholas.