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With one arm in the sleeve of his doublet; and the other in a not over spotless shirt; holding up his hose with one hand; and with the other a candle; whereby he had lighted himself to his own confusion; foaming with rage; stood Mr。 Evan Morgans; alias Father Parsons; looking; between his confused habiliments and his fiery visage (as Yeo told him to his face); 〃the very moral of a half… plucked turkey…cock。〃 And behind him; dressed; stood Eustace Leigh。
〃We found the maid letting these here two out by the front door;〃 said one of the captors。
〃Well; Mr。 Parsons;〃 said Amyas; 〃and what are you about here? A pretty nest of thieves and Jesuits we seem to have routed out this evening。〃
〃About my calling; sir;〃 said Parsons; stoutly。 〃By your leave; I shall prepare this my wounded lamb for that account to which your man's cruelty has untimely sent him。〃
The wounded man; who lay upon the floor; heard Parsons' voice; and moaned for the 〃Patrico。〃
〃You see; sir;〃 said he; pompously; 〃the sheep know their shepherd's voice。〃
〃The wolves you mean; you hypocritical scoundrel!〃 said Amyas; who could not contain his disgust。 〃Let the fellow truss up his points; lads; and do his work。 After all; the man is dying。〃
〃The requisite matters; sir; are not at hand;〃 said Parsons; unabashed。
〃Eustace; go and fetch his matters for him; you seem to be in all his plots。〃
Eustace went silently and sullenly。
〃What's that fresh noise at the back; now?〃
〃The maid; sir; a wailing over her uncle; the fellow that we saw sneak away when we came up。 It was him the horse killed。〃
It was true。 The wretched host had slipped off on their approach; simply to call the neighboring outlaws to the spoil; and he had been filled with the fruit of his own devices。
〃His blood be on his own head;〃 said Amyas。
〃I question; sir;〃 said Yeo; in a low voice; 〃whether some of it will not be on the heads of those proud prelates who go clothed in purple and fine linen; instead of going forth to convert such as he; and then wonder how these Jesuits get hold of them。 If they give place to the devil in their sheepfolds; sure he'll come in and lodge there。 Look; sir; there's a sight in a gospel land!〃
And; indeed; the sight was curious enough。 For Parsons was kneeling by the side of the dying man; listening earnestly to the confession which the man sobbed out in his gibberish; between the spasms of his wounded chest。 Now and then Parsons shook his head; and when Eustace returned with the holy wafer; and the oil for extreme unction; he asked him; in a low voice; 〃Ballard; interpret for me。〃
And Eustace knelt down on the other side of the sufferer; and interpreted his thieves' dialect into Latin; and the dying man held a hand of each; and turned first to one and then to the other stupid eyes;not without affection; though; and gratitude。
〃I can't stand this mummery any longer;〃 said Yeo。 〃Here's a soul perishing before my eyes; and it's on my conscience to speak a word in season。〃
〃Silence!〃 whispered Amyas; holding him back by the arm; 〃he knows them; and he don't know you; they are the first who ever spoke to him as if he had a soul to be saved; and first come; first served; you can do no good。 See; the man's face is brightening already。〃
〃But; sir; 'tis a false peace。〃
〃At all events he is confessing his sins; Yeo; and if that's not good for him; and you; and me; what is?〃
〃Yea; Amen! sir; but this is not to the right person。〃
〃How do you know his words will not go to the right person; after all; though he may not send them there? By heaven! the man is dead!〃
It was so。 The dark catalogue of brutal deeds had been gasped out; but ere the words of absolution could follow; the head had fallen back; and all was over。
〃Confession in extremis is sufficient;〃 said Parsons to Eustace (〃Ballard;〃 as Parsons called him; to Amyas's surprise); as he rose。 〃As for the rest; the intention will be accepted instead of the act。〃
〃The Lord have mercy on his soul!〃 said Eustace。
〃His soul is lost before our very eyes;〃 said Yeo。
〃Mind your own business;〃 said Amyas。
〃Humph; but I'll tell you; sir; what our business is; if you'll step aside with me。 I find that poor fellow that lies dead is none other than the leader of the Gubbings; the king of them; as they dare to call him。〃
〃Well; what of that?〃
〃Mark my words; sir; if we have not a hundred stout rogues upon us before two hours are out; forgive us they never will; and if we get off with our lives; which I don't much expect; we shall leave our horses behind; for we can hold the house; sir; well enough till morning; but the courtyard we can't; that's certain!〃
〃We had better march at once; then。〃
〃Think; sir; if they catch us upas they are sure to do; knowing the country better than wehow will our shot stand their arrows?〃
〃True; old wisdom; we must keep the road; and we must keep together; and so be a mark for them; while they will be behind every rock and bank; and two or three flights of arrows will do our business for us。 Humph! stay; I have a plan。〃 And stepping forward he spoke
〃Eustace; you will be so kind as to go back to your lambs; and tell them; that if they meddle with us cruel wolves again to…night; we are ready and willing to fight to the death; and have plenty of shot and powder at their service。 Father Parsons; you will be so kind as to accompany us; it is but fitting that the shepherd should be hostage for his sheep。〃
〃If you carry me off this spot; sir; you carry my corpse only;〃 said Parsons。 〃I may as well die here as be hanged elsewhere; like my martyred brother Campian。〃
〃If you take him; you must take me too;〃 said Eustace。
〃What if we won't?〃
〃How will you gain by that? you can only leave me here。 You cannot make me go to the Gubbings; if I do not choose。〃
Amyas uttered sotto voce an anathema on Jesuits; Gubbings; and things in general。 He was in a great hurry to get to Bideford; and he feared that this business would delay him; as it was; a day or two。 He wanted to hang Parsons; he did not want to hang Eustace; and Eustace; he knew; was well aware of that latter fact; and played his game accordingly; but time ran on; and he had to answer sulkily enough:
〃Well then; if you; Eustace; will go and give my message to your converts; I will promise to set Mr。 Parsons free again before we come to Lydford town; and I advise you; if you have any regard for his life; to see that your eloquence be persuasive enough; for as sure as I am an Englishman; and he none; if the Gubbings attack us; the first bullet that I shall fire at them will have gone through his scoundrelly brains。〃
Parsons still kicked。
〃Very well; then; my merry men all。 Tie this gentleman's hands behind his back; get the horses out; and we'll right away up into Dartmoor; find a good high tor; stand our ground there till morning; and then carry him into Okehampton to the nearest justice。 If he chooses to delay me in my journey; it is fair that I should make him pay for it。〃
Whereon Parsons gave in; and being fast tied by his arm to Amyas's saddle; trudged alongside his horse for several weary miles; while Yeo walked by his sid