s advanced a step, and hesitated.

"Lift him, on your oath over our father's body!"

The two brothers seized him on the other side. As they lifted him to a
level with the caldron, the horror of the death that threatened him
burst from the lips of the miserable man in a scream of terror. The
brothers held him firm at the caldron's edge. "Name the man!" they
said for the last time.

The priest's teeth chattered--he was speechless. But he made a sign
with his head--a sign in the affirmative. They placed him in a chair,
and waited patiently until he was able to speak.

His first words were words of entreaty. He begged Thomas Siadoux to
give him back the crucifix. When it was placed in his possession, he
kissed it, and said, faintly, "I ask pardon of God for the sin that I
am about to commit." He paused, and then looked up at the younger
brother, who still stood in front of him. "I am ready," he said.
"Question me, and I will answer."

Jean repeated the questions which he had put when the priest was first
brought into the room.

"You know the murderer of our father?"

"I know him."

"Since when?"

"Since he made his confession to me yesterday in the Cathedral of
Toulouse."

"Name him."

"His name is Cantegrel."

"The man who wanted to marry our aunt?"

"The same."

"What brought him to the confessional?"

"His own remorse."

"What were the motives for his crime?"

"There were reports against his character, and he discovered that your
father had gone privately to Narbonne to make sure they were true."

"Did our father make sure of their truth?"

"He did."

"Would those discoveries have separated our aunt from Cantegrel if our
father had lived to tell her of them?"

"They would. If your father had lived, he would have told your aunt
that Cantegrel was married already; that he had deserted his wife at
Narbonne; that she was living there with another man, under another
name; and that she had herself confessed it in your father's presence."

"Where was the murder committed?"

"Between Villefranche and this village. Cantegrel had followed your
father to Narbonne, and had followed him back again to Villefranche.
As far as that place, he traveled in company with others, both going
and returning. Beyond Villefranche, he was left alone at the ford over
the river. There Cantegrel drew the knife to kill him before he
reached home and told his news to your aunt."

"How was the murder committ