"Aye, aye. That summer night she stung--she stung! Oh! sweet--sweet--sweet is revenge, Sir Morgan. Is it not, Sir Morgan?"
"God forbid!--God forbid!--Yet, if that be sweet, you have had it."
"Aye, but not all. We are not yet come to our death-beds: and, before then, the snake may sting again. All is not finished yet:--what think you, Sir Morgan, will be the end? what should be the end?"
"If you speak of our death-beds, Mrs. Godber,--peace, as I humbly presume to hope, the peace of christian charity and mutual forgiveness. Frail creatures that we are! the best will need forgiveness; the guiltiest, I trust, who brings a contrite heart, will not ask it in vain." Then, after a pause, he added solemnly--"You also, Mrs. Godber, will need forgiveness."
She fixed her eyes intently upon him, at the same time slowly drawing from her pocket two parcels. One was a packet of letters. She laid them upon the library table; and, striking her hand upon them with emphasis, she said--"Read those, when you will: they are letters from Captain Donneraile and Winifred Griffiths."
Sir Morgan trembled and would have taken the letters: but at this moment the trampling of horses was heard in the great court, upon which the library windows looked out: it was now growing dark; and the torches of the horsemen suddenly irradiated the room, and flashed upon the eyes of Mrs. Godber. Sir Morgan shuddered at their expression.
She opened the other parcel; and said, with something of a commanding tone, "Come here! come here!"
Mechanically almost he followed her to the window: she opened and displayed a baby's frock: the light of the torches fell strong upon it, and Sir Morgan recognized it well; for it bore in embroidered colours the bloody hand and the antient crest of Walladmor--by which marks it had been advertized through Europe.
"Where had you this, Mrs. Godber?" said he commanding his emotions: but at that instant Sir Charles Davenant entered the room; and he turned to him with a convulsive eagerness.--
"The verdict. Sir Charles? What is the verdict?"