Volume I Part 64 (1/2)
Much chagrined by so unexpected an interference, he left the castle, even at this untimely hour. Yet his footsteps were not bent towards the shadow of his own roof, the deanery at Whalley.
Outside the castle wall, and on the steepest side of the hill, was a little hermitage, wherein dwelt one of those reputed saints that dealt in miracles and prayers for the benefit of the ”true believers.” Many of these solitaries were well skilled in craft and intrigue; others, doubtless, deceived themselves as well as others in the belief that Heaven had granted them the power to suspend and control the operations of nature. To this habitation, occupied by one of these holy santons of the Church, were the steps of the dean immediately directed. He raised the latch as though accustomed to this familiarity. The chamber, a high narrow cell, scooped out of the rock, was quite dark; but the voice was heard, a deep sepulchral tone, as though issuing from the ground--
”Art thou here so soon, De Whalley?”
”Sir Ulphilas,” said the intruder hastily, and with some degree of agitation, ”canst work miracles now? The Canaanites are come into the land to possess it; nor will threatenings and conjurations drive them forth.”
”I know it,” said the hermit, who, though unseen, had not, it seems, been an inattentive observer of the events of the last two hours. A light suddenly shot forth, enkindled as if by magic, showing the tall gaunt form of the ”Holy Hermit of the Rock.” He was dressed in a long grey garment of coa.r.s.e woollen. It was said that he wore an iron corslet next his skin, for mortification, it was thought by the vulgar; but whether for this purpose, or for one of a more obvious nature, it would perhaps be easy to surmise. A girdle of plaited horse-hair encompa.s.sed his thin attenuated form. His head was uncovered; and he seemed to have just risen from his couch, a board or shelf, raised only a few inches from the rock on which it lay. His eye was wild, quick, and sparkling; but his cheek was deadly pale, and his features collapsed and haggard in their expression.
”I have dreamed a dream,” said the visionary.
”And to what end?” inquired his visitor, seating himself with great deliberation.
”Nay, 'twas not a dream,” continued the hermit: ”St Michael stood before me this blessed night, arrayed as thou seest him portrayed in the gla.s.s of his holy chapel above. His armour was all bright and glistering, and his sword a devouring flame. He flapped his wings thrice ere he departed, and said unto me, 'Arise, Ulphilas, and work, for thine hour is come!'”
”And what the better am I,” said the irreverent priest, ”for this saintly revelation? I must work too, or ”------
”Hold,” said the hermit, laying his hand on the other's shoulder with great solemnity; ”speak not unadvisedly with thy lips; there be created intelligences within hearing that thou little knowest of.”
”Thou didst promise; but verily the substance hath slidden from my grasp: whilst I, fond fool, embraced a shadow. Cajoled by thine a.s.surance, that my blood should be with the proud current that inherits these domains, I forebore, and let thee work. But thou hast been a traitor to my cause I do verily suspect, nay, accuse thee of this fraud.
Thy machinations and thy counsel were the cause. By thine accursed arts Robert de Lacy hath left his patrimony to a stranger!”
”True, I counselled him thus. What then?”
”I and mine are barred from the inheritance!”
”Shall the word of the Hermit of the Rock fall to the ground? Have I not promised that thy blood shall be with those that inherit these domains?”
”Promises are slender food for an hungry stomach,” cried the unbeliever.
”If the promise fail, blame thy dastardly fears, and not my power. Thou shalt see the promised land thou shalt not inherit. Thy son shall receive the blessing.”
The dean looked for a moment as though he could have fawned and supplicated for a reversion of the decree; but pride or anger had the mastery.
”And so,” cried he, ”thou findest thy predictions run counter to thy schemes, perdie; for thou dost mock me in them with a double sense.”
”How, false one? Have I not wrought for thee? Hath not he, whose corpse now resteth in hope, overwhelmed thee with his favours through my counsel and contrivance? I owed thee a service, for thou wast my stay and sustenance when driven hither an outcast from the haunts of men. But thoughtest thou that I should pander to thy l.u.s.t, and hew out a pathway to thy desire?”
”To me this!” said the covetous intruder, his voice quivering with rage.
”Yes, to thee, Robert de Whalley,” replied the hermit: ”because thou hast not leaped the last height of thine ambition, forsooth--because thou art not lord of these wide domains, through my interest and holy communion with the departed--and because I have not basely sold myself to thee, thou art offended. Beware lest the endowment be wrested from thy grasp, the glebe and manor pa.s.s away from thine inheritance.”
”Thou hadst the privity and counsel of the deceased, and a whisper would have made it mine,” said the dean, with great dejection.
”Greedy and unblus.h.i.+ng as thou art, know it was I who counselled him, and the deed is in my keeping. I sent a secret message unto Halton with the news, and Roger de Fitz-Eustace will be here anon!”
”Thou dreamest; he is in bondage, or slain at Ascalon.”
”He will reappear,” replied the hermit, ”and the banner of the Fitz-Eustace wave on yonder turret. Hence! ungrateful member of our holy communion;--to thy house, and let an old man rest in peace.”