George's Chapel, and he had scarcely
entered them when he heard footsteps behind him, and turning at the
sound, beheld a Franciscan friar, for so his habit of the coarsest grey
cloth, tied with a cord round the waist, proclaimed him. The friar was
very tall and gaunt, and his cowl was drawn over his face so as to
conceal his features.
"What would you, brother? " inquired the canon, halting. "I have a
request to make of you, reverend sir," replied the friar, with a lowly
inclination of the head. "I have just arrived from Chertsey Abbey,
whither I have been tarrying for the last three days, and while
conversing with the guard at the gate, I saw a prisoner brought into the
castle charged with heinous offences, and amongst others, with
dealings with the fiend."
"You have been rightly informed, brother," rejoined the canon.
"And have I also been rightly informed that you desire a priest to pass
the night with him, reverend sir?" returned the friar. " If so, I would
crave permission to undertake the office. Two souls, as deeply laden
as that of this poor wretch, have been snatched from the jaws of Satan
by my efforts,and I do not despair of success now.
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