The scene underwent a sudden change, and I now found
myself in a small and dimly-lighted apartment, which seemed
designed equally for a studio and a laboratory of art. The
walls were surrounded by enormous cases, on the shelves of
which were massive scrolls of vellum, huge parchment manuscripts,
and volumes fastened with clasps of brass and silver.
Some of these lay open. Charts hung wide marked with strange
characters. Frames of ebony were thus suspended also bearing
the signs of the zodiac. Other furniture, of quaint and strange
fashion, seemed to show conclusively that the possessor pursued
the seductive science of astrology. He had other pursuits — a
small furnace, the coals of which were ignited, occupied one corner
of the chamber, near which stood a table covered with
retorts and receivers, cylinders and gauging-glasses, and all the
other paraphernalia which usually belong to the analytic worker
in chemistry. The old man, and the young girl described in

[figure description] Page 372.[end figure description]

the previous scene, were, at first, the only occupants of the
apartment. But a few moments elapsed, however, when an
inner door was thrown open, and a third party appeared, closely
enveloped in a cloak of sable. This he threw aside, and I discovered
him to be the same person who had been the chief counsellor
of the king, and whom I supposed to be his favorite. At
his entrance the damsel disappeared. The stranger then, somewhat
abruptly, began in the following manner: —

“Why, O why did you not choose me for your champion?”

“And why, my lord, expose you to a conflict with one of the
bravest warriors in all the realm?”

“He is brave, but I fear him not; besides, he who fights
against guilt hath a strength of arm which supplies all deficiencies.
But it is not too late. I may still supply your place.”

“Forgive me, dear lord, but I have made my election.”

“Alas, old man, why are you thus obstinate? He will slay
you at the first encounter.”

“And if he does, what matter! I have but a brief space to
live, according to the common allotment. He hath more, which
were well employed devoted to repentance. It were terrible,
indeed, that he should be hurried before the awful tribunal of
Heaven with all the blackness in his soul, with all his sins
unpurged, upon his conscience.”

“Why, this is veriest madness. Think you what will follow
your submission and defeat? He will pursue his conspiracy.
Others will do what you have refused. He will drag other
and bitter spirits into his scheme. He will bring murder into
our palaces, and desolation into our cities. Know you not the
man as I know him? Shall he be suffered to escape, when the
hand of God has clearly shown you that his purposes are to be
overthrown, and his crime to be punished through your agency.”

“And it shall be so, my dear lord. It is not my purpose to
submit. The traitor shall be met in battle.”

“But by thyself? Why not a champion? I am ready.”

“Greatly indeed do I thank and honor thee, my lord; but it
can not be.”

“Methinks there is some touch of insanity about thee, old
man, in spite of all thy wisdom. Thou canst not hope to contend,
in sooth, against this powerful warrior. He will hurl thee

[figure description] Page 373.[end figure description]

to the earth with the first thrust of his heavy lance; or smite
thee down to death with a single blow of battle axe or dagger.”

“Hear me, my lord, and have no fear. Thou knowest not
the terrible powers which I possess, nor should any know, but
that this necessity compels me to employ them. I will slay my
enemy and thine. He can not harm me. He will perish helplessly
ere his weapon shall be twice lifted to affront me.”

“Thou meanest not to employ sorcery?”

“Be assured, my lord, I shall use a carnal agent only. The
instrument which I shall take with me to battle, though of terrible
and destructive power, shall be as fully blessed of Heaven
as any in your mortal armory.”

“Be it so! I am glad that thou art so confident; and yet,
let me entreat thee to trust thy battle to my hands.”

“No, my dear lord, no! To thee there would be danger —
to me, none. I thank thee for thy goodness, and will name thee
in my prayers to Heaven.”

We need not pursue their dialogue, which was greatly prolonged,
and included much other matter which did not concern
the event before us. When the nobleman took his departure,
the damsel reappeared. The old man took her in his embrace,
and while the tears glistened upon his snowy beard, he thus
addressed her: —

“But for thee — for thee, chiefly — daughter of the beloved
and sainted child in heaven, I had spared myself this trial. This
wretched man should live wert thou not present, making it
needful that I should still prolong to the last possible moment,
the remnant of my days. Were I to perish, where wert
thou? What would be the safety of the sweet one and the desolate?
The insect would descend upon the bud, and it would
lose scent and freshness. The worm would fasten upon the
flower, and a poison worse than death would prey upon its core.
No! my poor Lucilla, I must live for thee, though I live not for
myself. I must shed the blood of mine enemy, and spare mine
own, that thou mayest not be desolate.”

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