“Extinguish the light!” cried Herne, in a commanding voice.
Surrey instantly sprang to his feet, and dashed the lamp off the table. “Behold!” cried the demon.
And instantly a vision, representing the form and lineaments of the Fair Geraldine to the life, shone forth against the opposite wall of the chamber. At the feet of the visionary damsel knelt a shape resembling the Duke of Richmond. He was pressing the hand extended to him by the Fair Geraldine to his lips, and a smile of triumph irradiated his features.
“Such is man's friendship—such woman's constancy!” cried Herne. “Are you now satisfied?”
“I am, that you have deceived me, false spirit!” cried the earl. “I would not believe the Fair Geraldine inconstant, though all hell told me so.”
A terrible laugh broke from the demon, and the vision faded away. All became perfect darkness, and for a few moments the earl remained silent. He then called to the demon, but receiving no answer, put forth his hand towards the spot where he had stood. He was gone.
Confounded, Surrey returned to the table, and searched for the relic, but, with a feeling of indescribable anguish and self-reproach, found that it had likewise disappeared.
V.
What befell Sir Thomas Wyat in the Sandstone Cave—And how
he drank a maddening Potion.