"The black-hearted villain!" hissed Dick. "Well, for your comfort, holy
priest, I'll tell you who that wizard is. He is Death himself, Death the
Sword, Death the Fire, Death the Helper, and presently you'll meet him
again."
"I knew it, I knew it," groaned the wretched man. "Oh! such is the end
of sin whereof we think so little in our day of strength."
"Nay," broke in Hugh, "you'll meet, not the minister, but Him whom he
serves and in His hand are mercies. Be silent, Dick, for this wretch
makes confession and his time is short. Spare the tool and save your
wrath for him who wielded it. Go now and fetch David Day that he may
witness also."
So Dick went, and Nicholas continued his tale, throwing light into many
a dark place, though there was little more that Hugh thought worthy of
record.
Presently David came and started back in horror at the sight of that
yellow tortured face set upon a living skeleton. Then the writing was
read and Nicholas, held up by Dick, set his signature with a trembling
hand to this his confession of the truth. This done they signed as
witnesses, all three of them.
Now Hugh, whose pity was stirred, wished to move Nicholas and lay him on
a bed in some chamber, and if they could, find someone to watch him till
the end. But the priest refused this charity.
"Let me die before the altar," he said, "where I may set my eyes upon
Him whom I have betrayed afresh," and he pointed to the carved ivory
crucifix which hung above it.
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