favor or other motive, I buried the one talent
committed to my keeping."

"I dared not, at my entrance," replied the Knight, who strove to make
his tone and demeanor conciliatory, "entertain the thought that a
friendly feeling toward me lurked in his bosom, by whose mandate my
helpless household has been invaded in the night and made prisoners,
and my house turned into a heap of ashes."

"It was by no order of mine," said Winthrop, hastily, "that the house
was burned, and I lament its destruction as deeply as yourself. How it
caught fire, is to me unknown; but if by the act of our people and not
of the savages, ample recompense shall be made."

"How shall that be determined? But I will not waste my words
thereupon. The loss of my house and other property is insignificant,
compared with the cruel wrong done the Lady Geraldine and the dishonor
to my name."

"She, whom you call the Lady Geraldine, has been treated with all
courtesy; and, considering what, in the judgment of the Council, has
been proved against her, with more than she is entitled to. For
yourself, every opportunity shall be granted to clear off the clouds
of suspicion hovering over you."

"Only a clear field and no favor do I desire for myself; but for the
persecuted lady, my cousin, I pledge you my knightly word that any
charges reflecting upon her character as a virtuous and godly lady,
are infamous and false. You perceive, right worshipful sir, that I do
not pretend to be ignorant of the accusations which inventive malice,
hatched out of what cockatrice egg I know not, has brought against my
suffering cousin, but I pronounce them, again, alike dastardly and
without truth."

"If so, she is, indeed, greatly wronged, though partly responsible
herself therefor, as having confessed the same."

"Then have strange means been employed to make her acknowledge a lie,"
said the Knight, warmly, "for any such confession were utterly untrue.
I have heard of wretches, who, upon the rack, in order to escape its
intolerable agonies, have accused themselves of all sorts of crimes of
which they were innocent. Is this the way you have abused my
relative?"

"Sir Christopher," answered Winthrop, mildly, "you know as well as I
that such practices are alien to the spirit of British law and unused
by us. Touching this unhappy female, I think it meet to say no more at
present, but will wish you success in the vindication of yourself."

"For myself," replied the Knight