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whispered； 〃can you hear me？〃
〃I can hear you； Simon。〃
〃Andreas says that some one comes。〃
〃Then cover over the hole；〃 came the answer。 〃Quick； I pray you；
cover it over！〃
A mantle was stretched across it； so that no glimmer of light
should warn the new…comer。 The fear was that he might have heard；
the sound of Nigel's descent。 But soon it was clear that he had
not done so； for Andreas announced that he was still advancing。
Presently Nigel could hear the distant thud of his feet。 If he
bore a lantern all was lost。 But no gleam of light appeared in
the black tunnel； and still the footsteps drew nearer。
Nigel breathed a prayer of thanks to all his guardian saints as he
crouched close to the slimy wall and waited breathless； his dagger
in his hand。 Nearer yet and nearer came the steps。 He could hear
the stranger's coarse breathing in the darkness。 Then as he
brushed past Nigel bounded upon him with a tiger spring。 There
was one gasp of astonishment； and not a sound more； for the
Squire's grip was on the man's throat and his body was pinned
motionless against the wall。
〃Simon！ Simon！〃 cried Nigel loudly。
The mantle was moved from the hole。
〃Have you a cord？ Or your belts linked together may serve。〃
One of the peasants had a rope； and Nigel soon felt it dangling
against his hand。 He listened and there was no sound in the
passage。 For an instant he released his captive's throat。 A
torrent of prayers and entreaties came forth。 The man was shaking
like a leaf in the wind。 Nigel pressed the point of his dagger
against his face and dared him to open his lips。 Then he slipped
the rope beneath his arms and tied it。
〃Pull him up！〃 he whispered； and for an instant the gray glimmer
above him was obscured。
〃We have him； fair sir；〃 said Simon。
〃Then drop me the rope and hold it fast。〃
A moment later Nigel stood among the group of men who had gathered
round their captive。 It was too dark to see him； and they dare
not strike flint and steel。
Simon passed his hand roughly over him and felt a fat clean…shaven
face； and a cloth gabardine which hung to the ankles。 〃Who are
you？〃 he whispered。 〃 peak the truth and speak it low； if you
would ever speak again。〃
The man's teeth chattered in his head with cold and fright。 〃I
speak no English；〃 he murmured。
〃French； then；〃 said Nigel。
〃I am a holy priest of God。 You court the ban of holy Church when
you lay hands upon me。 I pray you let me go upon my way； for
there are those whom I would shrive and housel。 If they should
die in sin； their damnation is upon you。〃
〃How are you called then？〃
〃I am Dom Peter de Cervolles。〃
〃De Cervolles； the arch…priest； he who heated the brazier when
they burned out my eyes；〃 cried old Andreas。 〃Of all the devils
in hell there is none fouler than this one。 Friends； friends； if
I have done aught for you this night； I ask but one reward； that
ye let me have my will of this man。〃
But Nigel pushed the old man back。 〃There is no time for this；〃
he said。 〃Now hark you； priest … if priest indeed you be … your
gown and tonsure will not save you if you play us false； for we
are here of a set purpose and we will go forward with it； come
what may。 Answer me and answer me truly or it will be an ill
night for you。 In what part of the Castle does this tunnel
enter？〃
〃In the lower cellar。〃
〃What is at the end？〃
〃An oaken door。〃
〃Is it barred？〃
〃Yes； it is barred。〃
〃How would you have entered？〃
〃I would have given the password。〃
〃Who then would have opened？〃
〃There is a guard within。〃
〃And beyond him？〃
〃Beyond him are the prison cells and the jailers。〃
〃Who else would be afoot？〃
〃No one save a guard at the gate and another on the battlement。〃
〃What then is the password？〃
The man was silent。
〃The password； fellow！〃
The cold points of two daggers pricked his throat； but still he
would not speak。
〃Where is the blind man？〃 asked Nigel。 〃Here； Andreas； you can
have him and do what you will with him。〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 the priest whimpered。 〃Keep him off me。 Save me from
blind Andreas！ I will tell you everything。〃
〃The password then； this instant？〃
〃It is ‘Benedicite！'〃
〃We have the password； Simon；〃 cried Nigel。 〃Come then； let us on
to the farther end。 These peasants will guard the priest； and
they will remain here lest we wish to send a message。〃
〃Nay； fair sir； it is in my mind that we can do better；〃 said
Simon。 〃Let us take the priest with us； so that he who is within
may know his voice。〃
〃It is well thought of；〃 said Nigel； 〃and first let us pray
together； for indeed this night may well be our last。〃
He and the three men…at…arms knelt in the rain and sent up their
simple orisons； Simon still clutching tight to his prisoner's
wrist。
The priest fumbled in his breast and drew something forth。 〃It is
the heart of the blessed confessor Saint Enogat；〃 said he。 〃It
may be that it will ease and assoil your souls if you would wish
to handle it。〃
The four Englishmen passed the flat silver case from hand to hand；
each pressing his lips devoutly upon it。 Then they rose to their
feet。 Nigel was the first to lower himself down the hole； then
Simon； then the priest； who was instantly seized by the other two。
The men…at…arms followed them。 They had scarcely moved away from
the hole when Nigel stopped。
〃Surely some one else came after us；〃 said he。
They listened； but no whisper or rustle came from behind them。
For a minute they paused and then resumed their journey through
the dark。 It seemed a long； long way； though in truth it was but
a few hundred yards before they came to a door with a glimmer of
yellow light around it； which barred their passage。 Nigel struck
upon it with his hand。
There was the rasping of a bolt and then a loud voice 〃Is that
you； priest？〃
〃Yes； it is I；〃 said the prisoner in a quavering voice。 〃Open；
Arnold！〃
The voice was enough。 There was no question of passwords。 The
door swung inward； and in an instant the janitor was cut down by
Nigel and Simon。 So sudden and so fierce was the attack that save
for the thud of his body no sound was heard。 A flood of light
burst outward into the passage； and the Englishmen stood with
blinking eyes in its glare。
In front of them lay a stone…flagged corridor； across which lay
the dead body of the janitor。 It had doors on either side of it；
and another grated door at the farther end。 A strange hubbub； a
kind of low droning and whining filled the air。 The four men were
standing listening； full of wonder as to what this might mean；
when a sharp cry came from behind them。 The priest lay in a
shapeless heap upon the ground； and the blood was rushing from his
gaping throat。 Down the passage； a black shadow in the yellow
light； there fled a crouching man； who clattered with a stick as
he went。
〃It is Andreas；〃 cried West…country Will。 〃He has slain him。〃
〃Then it was he that I heard behind us；〃 said Nigel。 〃Doubtless
he was at our very heels in the darkness。 I fear that the
priest's cry has been heard。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Simon； 〃there are so many cries that one more m