Part 146 (1/2)

”Why, methought I left it open,” said he. ”The wind. There is not a breath of wind. What means this?”

He stood with his hand upon the rugged door. He looked through one of the great c.h.i.n.ks, for it was much smaller in places than the aperture it pretended to close, and saw his little oil wick burning just where he had left it.

”How is it with me,” he sighed, ”when I start and tremble at nothing?

Either I did shut it, or the fiend hath shut it after me to disturb my happy soul. Retro Sathanas!”

And he entered his cave rapidly, and began with somewhat nervous expedition to light one of his largest tapers. While he was lighting it, there was a soft sigh in the cave.

He started and dropped the candle just as it was lighting, and it went out.

He stooped for it hurriedly and lighted it, listening intently. When it was lighted he shaded it with his hand from behind, and threw the faint light all round the cell.

In the farthest corner the outline of the wall seemed broken.

He took a step towards the place with his heart beating.

The candle at the same time getting brighter, he saw it was the figure of a woman.

Another step with his knees knocking together.

IT WAS MARGARET BRANDT.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Beat down Satan under our feet.

[2] Up, Hearts!

[3] Oh G.o.d our refuge and strength.

[4] Oh! Lamb of G.o.d, that takest away the Sins of the world, have mercy upon me!

[5] Oh! Holy Trinity, one G.o.d, have mercy upon us.

[6] From the a.s.saults of demons--from the wrath to come--from everlasting d.a.m.nation--

Deliver us O Lord!

[7] See the English collect, St. Michael and all Angels.

[8] Of whom may we seek succour, but of thee, Oh Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased (and that torrent of prayer, the following verse).

[G] Dr. d.i.c.kson, author of _Fallacies of the Faculty_, etc.

[H] It is related of a mediaeval hermit, that being offered a garment made of cats' skins, he rejected it, saying, ”I have heard of a lamb of G.o.d, but I never heard of a cat of G.o.d.”