" And, drawing aside the arras, he
showed him a certain secret place large enough to hold a man, then left
the room.
Hugh laid himself upon the skin of the beast, which had been a tiger,
though he did not know it by that name. So weary was he that not all he
had gone through that day or even the old warrior-priest's marvellous
tale, in which he and Eve played so wonderful a part, could keep his
eyes from closing. Presently he was fast asleep, and so remained until,
four hours later, something disturbed him, and he awoke to see Sir
Andrew writing at a desk.
"Rise, my son," said the old priest without looking up from his paper.
"Early as it is you must be stirring if you would be clear of Dunwich by
daybreak and keep a whole skin. I have set a taper in my sleeping-closet
yonder, and there you'll find water to wash with and a stool to kneel on
for your prayers, neither of which neglect, since you have blood on your
hands and great need for Heaven's help."
So Hugh arose, yawning, and stumbled heavily to the chamber, for he was
still faint with sleep, which would not leave him till he had plunged
his head into a basin of icy water. This done, he knelt and prayed as he
had been bidden, with a very earnest heart, and afterward came back to
the guest-hall.
Seeing folk gathered there as he entered he laid hand on sword, not his
own with which he had killed his cousin, but a long and knightly weapon
that Sir Andrew had given him with the armour.
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