sense came
back a little.

When he could see again clearly (for just now the face of the officer
and the woodwork behind him swam like images seen in water),
Master-Lieutenant had a little bottle in his hand. He bade Master
Richard look upon it and asked him what it was.

"I think it to be my Quinte Essence" said Master Richard.

"You acknowledge that then!" cries the man. "And what is Quinte
Essence?"

"It is distilled of blood" said Master Richard.

The officer set the bottle down again upon the table.

"Now sir" he said, "that is enough to cast you. None who was a Christian
man would have such a thing. Say _paternoster_." [This seems to have
been one of the tests in trials for witchcraft.]

"_Paternoster_ ..." began Master Richard.

Now, my children, I cannot explain what this signified, but Master
Richard could get no further than that. I know that I myself cannot say
any of the prayers of mass when I am away from the altar, and other
priests have told me the same of themselves, but it seems to me very
strange that a man should not at any time be able to say _paternoster_.
Whether it was that Master Richard was sick, or that the officer's face
troubled him, or whether that God Almighty desired to put him to a
grievous test, I know not. But he could not say it. He repeated over and
over again, _Paternoster ... Paternoster_, and swayed as he stood.

The officer's face grew dark and a little afraid; he blessed himself
three or four times, and breathed through his nostrils heavily. Master
Richard felt himself smiling again, and presently fell to laughing, and
as he laughed he perceived that the men who held him drew away from him
a little, and blessed themselves too.

"I cannot help it," sobbed Master Richard presently, "to think that I
cannot say _paternoster_!"

When he had recovered himself somewhat, he perceived that the two other
men were come up behind him.

Then the officer bade him turn and look, and he did so, with the tears
of that dreadful laughter still upon his cheeks.

The two men were standing there; one had a great hangman's whip of
leather in his hand, and the other a rope.

"Now, sir;" said the officer behind him, "here is enough authority for
you and me. Shall I bid them begin, or will you tell us what it is that
you have done to the King?"

Now, Master Richard had nothing to tell, as you know; he could not have
saved himself in any case from the torment, but our Lord allowed him t