ul
daughters.... Only yesterday I might--Yes, perchance I might...." And
then he stormed forth: "But who is there indeed to care for me? Who ever
comes nigh me with true love and honest trustfulness? Not one, no, not
one!... Ursula--the lad whom from an infant--and you--both of you, what
have you done?... Yesterday, only yesterday!... But to-day.... Four and
twenty thousand sequins!" His arms on a sudden failed him, and he sank
back in a deep swoon, his colorless face drooping on his shoulder. Now,
while we did all in our power to revive him, and while one serving-man
ran for the leech and another for the friar, meseemed that the old man's
left side was strangely stiff and numb; yet the low flame of his feeble
life was still burning.

Howbeit, when Master Ulsenius had let blood the old man opened his
right eye; and when presently he was able to say: "Book," and then again
"Book," we perceived by sundry signs that what he craved was water,
and that he spoke one word for another. And thus it was till his chief
confessor, Master Leonard Derrer, the reverend Prior of the Dominicans,
came in with the sacristan, to administer to him extreme unction. But
now, when the reverend Father came toward the dying man with the Body
of the Lord, there was so dreadful and sorrowful a sight to be seen as
I may never forget to my latter day. Instead of receiving that Holy
Sacrament in all thankful humility, my grand-uncle thrust away my
lord Prior--a whitebearded old man, of a venerable and commanding
presence--with great fury and ungoverned rage, storming at him in
strangely-mingled words, which for sure, he meant for others, but in a
voice and with a mien which plainly showed that he would have nought
of that Messenger of Grace. And from time to time he turned that eye
he could use on Ann, and albeit he spoke one word for another, he made
shift many times to repeat the Cardinal's name with impatient bidding,
so that it was not hard to understand his meaning and his intent to
receive the Viaticum from none other than that high prelate.

Howbeit, to us it seemed nothing less than treason to the dying man to
interpret this to my lord Prior, in especial since my grand-uncle had,
but now, shown us so much favor. Indeed we were moved to show him all
loving kindness. Ann held his hand in hers, and whispered to him again
and again that he should take patience, and that his Eminence was
already on his way and would ere long be here. The reverend