Marjorie Bowen

“ A minute after, the pursuers bearing lights, and half delirious with wrath and terror, surged out of the college doors. Theirry caught Dirk's arm and they ran; across the thick grass, crashing through the bushes, trampling down the roses, blindly through the dark till the shouts and the lights grew fainter behind them and they could feel the trunks of trees impeding them and so knew that they must have reached the forest. Then Theirry let go of Dirk, who sank down by his side and lay sobbing in the grass. ”

“ The monk was ready.
"Upon your strange and close behaviour—the two of you, upon our ignorance of whence you came—upon the suddenness of the youth's illness after words passed between him and Master Dirk."
"Ay," put in one of the students eagerly. "And he lapped water like a dog."
"I have seen a light here well into the night," said another.
"And why left they before the vespers were finished?" demanded a third.
Theirry smiled; he felt that they were discovered, but fear was far from him. "These are childish accusations," he answered. "Get you gone to find a better." ”

“ The singers cast curious glances at him as he passed, and when he reached the door he heard a patter of feet behind him and turned to see Dirk at his elbow.
"I have done with it," he said hoarsely.
Dirk's eyes were flaming. "Do you want to make public confession?" he demanded, breathing hard. "Remember, it is our lives to pay, if they discover."
Theirry shuddered. "I cannot pray. I cannot stay in the church. For days I have felt the blessing scorch me."
"Come upstairs," said Dirk.
As they went down the long hall they met one who was a friend of Joris of Thuringia. Dirk stopped. ”

“ They stepped into the outer chamber and Dirk locked the door; Theirry gasped to feel the fresher air in his nostrils, and a sense of terror clouded his brain; but Dirk was in high spirits; his eyes narrowed with excitement, his pale lips set in a hard fashion. They descended into the hall. Without a word to each other, but side by side, the two students passed into the ante-chamber that led into the chapel. And there they stopped. The pale rays of a candle dispersed the gathering dark and revealed a group of men standing together and conversing in whispers.
"Why do they not enter the church?" ”

“ He took obvious pleasure in saying her name. "She is a great lady and gracious."
"Out on ye!" exclaimed Dirk passionately. "What is she to us? Have we not other matters to think of? I did not think ye so weak as to come chanting the praises of the first thing that smiles on ye!"
Theirry was angered. "'Tis not the first time—and what have I said of her?"
"Oh enough—ye have lost your heart to her, I doubt not—and what use will ye be—a love-sick knave!"
"Nay," answered Theirry hotly. "You have no warrant for this speech. How should I love the lady, seeing her once? ”

“ The figure, horribly like Joris with its flat hat and student's robe, was struggling to its feet and emitting little moans of agony.
"It cannot get out," breathed Theirry.
"Nay," whispered Dirk, "wherefore did ye draw the circle?"
The flame was a column of pure fire, and it cast a glow of gold on the thing imprisoned in the ring Theirry had made; Dirk watched in an eager way, with neither fear nor compunction, but Theirry felt a wave of sickness mount to his brain. The creature was making useless endeavours to escape from the fiery glare ”

“ I forbid any to offer them shelter, food or help, I hurl on their heads the wrath of God and the hatred of man, I forbid any to attend their sick-bed, to receive their confession or to bury their bodies! ”

“ Michael II., the only man erect in the crouching multitude smiled slowly as he replaced the Eucharist; lightning' darted through the high coloured windows and quivered a moment before it was absorbed in the rich lights.
Down the chancel came a tall monk in the robe of the Order of the Black Penitents; his arms were folded, his hands hidden in his sleeves, his deep cowl cast his face into utter shadow.
"I thought Cardinal Colonna preached," whispered Balthasar fearfully, as the monk ascended the pulpit. "I know not this man." ”

“ A faint chant rose from the sacristy, jewelled crosses showed above the heads of the multitude as the monks entered holding them aloft, the fresh voices of the choristers came nearer, acolytes took their places round the altar, and the blue clouds of incense floated over the hushed multitude. ”

“ The blasphemy and mortal sin of what he had done sickened and frightened him; was not his being here the most horrible blasphemy of all?—he had no right; he had made false confessions to the priest, he had received absolution on lies; daily he had come here worshipping God with his lips and Satan with his heart. ”

“ Some of the students turned and saw them; they were forced to come forward; Dirk was silent and smiling.
"Have you heard?" asked one; all were sober and subdued.
"A horrible thing," said another. "Joris of Thuringia is struck with a strange illness. Certes! he fell down amongst us as if in the grip of hell fire." ”

“ The students were yelling in a thick fury as they discovered the unholy unguents and implements. They turned suddenly and dashed to the window. Theirry swung himself by his hands, then let go. With a shock that jarred every nerve in his body he landed on the balcony of the room beneath.
"Jump!" he called up to Dirk, who still crouched on the window-sill.
"Ah, soul of mine! Ah, I cannot!" Dirk stared through the darkness in a wild endeavour to discern Theirry.
"I am holding out my arms! Jump!"
The students had knocked over the lamp and it had checked them for the moment ”

“ Dirk bent his head in a curious manner, snatched the key from inside his shirt and flung it on the floor; instantly they let go of him to pick it up, and he staggered back beside Theirry. "Do not let them touch me," he said. "Do not let them touch me."
"Art a coward?" answered Theirry angrily. "Now we are utterly lost...."
He thrust Dirk away as if he would abandon him; but that youth caught hold of him in desperation. "Do not leave me—they will tear me to pieces."
The students were rushing through the unlocked door shouting for lights; the priest caught up the lamp and followed them ”