serable gems?"

Now Emlyn weakened, not for her own sake, and said she would speak with
her mistress.

He bade her do so.

"I thought that those jewels were burned, Emlyn, do you then know where
they are?" asked Cicely.

"Aye, I have said nothing of it to you, but I know. Speak the word and I
give them up to save you."

Cicely thought a while and kissed her child, which she held in her arms,
then laughed aloud and answered--

"Not so. That Abbot shall never be richer for any gem of mine. I have
told you in what I trust, and it is not jewels. Whether I burn or
whether I am saved, he shall not have them."

"Good," said Emlyn, "that is my mind also, I only spoke for your sake,"
and she went out and told the Abbot.

He came into Cicely's chamber and raged at them. He said that they
should be excommunicated, then tortured and then burned; but Cicely,
whom he had thought to frighten, never winced.

"If so, so let it be," she replied, "and I will bear all as best I can.
I know nothing of these jewels, but if they still exist they are mine,
not yours, and I am innocent of any witchcraft. Do your work, for I am
sure that the end shall be far other than you think."

"What!" said the Abbot, "has the foul fiend been with you again that you
talk thus certainly? Well, Sorceress, soon you will sing another tune,"
and he went to the door and summoned the Prioress.

"Put these women upon bread and water," he said, "and prepare them for
the rack, that they may discover their accomplices."

Mother Matilda set her gentle face, and answered--

"It shall not be done in this Nunnery, my Lord Abbot. I know the law,
and you have no such power. Moreover, if you move them hence, who are my
guests, I appeal to the King, and meanwhile raise the country on you."

"Said I not that they had accomplices?" sneered the Abbot, and went his
way.

But of the torture no more was heard, for that appeal to the King had an
ill sound in his ears.

CHAPTER XI

DOOMED

It was the day of trial. From dawn Cicely and Emlyn had seen people
hurrying in and out of the gates of the Nunnery, and heard workmen
making preparation in the guest-hall below their chamber. About eight
one of the nuns brought them their breakfast. Her face was scared and
white; she only spoke in whispers, looking behind her continually as
though she knew she was being watched.

Emlyn asked who their judges were, and she answered--

"The Abbot, a strange, black-faced