enned
as "washing one's hands with invisible soap, in imperceptible water."

"What hast under thine arm, reverend father?" asked Lord Marnell.

"Ah! this is the indictment of the Lady Marnell. Your Lordship witteth
that she will be examined to-morrow afore the council, and by them
sentenced."

"You will endeavour yourself, reverend father, that the sentence be made
as light as may be."

"My Lord, we have but one sentence for heretics," said Abbot Bilson,
with a smile which showed all his teeth, like a wild beast. "The Act
regarding them was yestermorn sceptred by the King's Grace."

"One!" remarked Lord Marnell, in some surprise. "The sentence now,
then, is--?"

"_Death_."

Lord Marnell hastily laid his hand on a buttress, to steady himself,
when he heard this awful news.

"You have deceived me, father! You have deceived me!" he cried. "You
told me, some months gone, when first I called you into this matter,
that the sentence on heretics was prison."

"My good Lord, I pray you remember that I told you but a moment back,
that the new Act is just passed. Ere that the sentence truly was close
prison; but now--"

On finding himself thus inveigled by the cunning of Abbot Bilson, Lord
Marnell was beside himself with passion. He burst into a torrent of the
most fearful language. Abbot Bilson stood calmly by, as if quite
accustomed to such scenes.

"My good Lord, I pray you blaspheme not, or I must needs appoint you a
sore penance," was all that he mildly observed.

Lord Marnell recovered himself by a strong effort, and asked, as
politely as he could, what description of death was commanded by the new
Act.

"Burning or beheading, at the pleasure of the King's Grace," replied the
Abbot, as unconcernedly as though the choice in question lay between a
couple of straws.

"My wife, being a peeress, will of force be beheaded?"

"Likely, I trow," replied the Abbot, drawing his cowl closer over his
head, as a cold blast of wind came up the street.

"Father, you must use all effort that the sentence be so pronounced, if
the King's Grace remit it not."

"The King's Grace remitteth never sentence on heretics," said Bilson,
with another of his disagreeable smiles. "He is much too true and
faithful son of Holy Church therefor. And as to my poor efforts, my
Lord--"

"You _can_, and you _shall_," wrathfully answered Lord Marnell, and, not
to prolong the contest, walked rapidly away.

Abbot Bilson stood loo