Part 39 (1/2)
”We have.”
”We have,” said they with bursting hearts, for they foresaw what accusation Edric was about to bring.
”I grieve, then, to say,” he continued, ”that this natural affection must be bitterly tried, for there is but one to whom my words can apply. Meanwhile, I will put a few questions. With whose dagger was the deed committed?”
”Alfgar's,” replied those who had been there the previous night.
”Whose chamber commanded the only entrance to the royal chamber?”
”Alfgar's.”
”Who incautiously, as if forgetting himself, stated that he found the door bolted on the inside?”
”Alfgar.”
”But the motive--the motive? The poor fellow loved him as he loved his own father.”
”I cannot explain that difficulty, but I can suggest one motive which may already have suggested itself to several. But let me ask of what nation is Alfgar?”
”A Dane; but an Englishman by long habit.”
”I can answer for that,” said Elfwyn.
”Once a Dane always a Dane. Now a secret messenger arrived from Canute yesterday, and had a long private interview with Alfgar. In short, I dare not say all I know or suspect, for there can be little doubt who will reign in England now.”
All were silent.
At length Edric continued, ”none can deny that we have grounds for our suspicions.”
”Yes, I do deny it,” said Elfwyn, ”the more so when I remember who makes the accusation.”
”You do well to reproach me; I deserve it, I confess, and more than deserve it. Yes, I was Edmund's enemy once; but perhaps you remember yesterday and the early ma.s.s at St. Frideswide's.”
”We do, we do,” cried all but Elfwyn and Herstan; but they were utterly outvoted, and the order was given to the captain of the hus-carles to arrest Alfgar.
Alfgar, desolate and almost distracted, not heeding that he was not summoned to the council, as he might so naturally have expected to be, wandered mechanically about the palace until the bell summoned him to the early ma.s.s. The bishop was the celebrant, for Father Cuthbert was to have officiated at the celebration of the marriage of his son in the faith. The solemn pealing of the bell for the ma.s.s at the hour of daybreak fell upon Alfgar's ears, and he turned almost mechanically to the cathedral, yet with vague desire to communicate all his griefs and troubles to a higher power than that of man, and to seek aid from a diviner source.
He entered, knelt in a mental att.i.tude easier to imagine than describe, but felt some heavenly dew fall upon his bleeding wounds; he left without waiting to speak to any one at the conclusion of the service, and was crossing the quadrangle to the palace which occupied a portion of the site of modern Christ Church, when a heavy hand was laid upon his shoulder.
He turned and saw the captain of the guard; two or three of his officers were beside him.
”It is my painful duty to arrest you and make you my prisoner.”
”On what charge?” said the astonished Alfgar.
”The murder of the king.”
CHAPTER XXIV. THE ORDEAL.