r his breath, for
there seemed to have come some desperate fury on him in place of
his cold despair of an hour since.

And when Egfrid had heard all, he raised his hand and swore that
not one stone of Beorn's house should be unblackened by fire by
this time tomorrow night, and as he said it he turned to Beorn,
shaking and white with wrath.

"Let that be," I answered him quickly; "no good, but much harm may
come therefrom. Wait but six months, and then maybe I shall be
back."

Now while we had thus spoken together, Ulfkytel had dismounted and
was holding some converse with a man whose figure I could not well
make out, even had I cared to try, in the dark shadow of horses and
riders which stayed the moonlight from them. But at this time the
stranger came towards us, and I saw that it was the priest who
served the Church of St. Peter, hard by where we stood. He came to
Beorn first, and spoke to him in a low voice, earnestly; but Beorn
paid no sort of heed to him, but turned his head away, cursing yet.
So after a few more words, the priest came to me.

"Wulfric," he said, "sad am I to see you thus. But justice is
justice, and must be done."

"Aye, Father," I answered, "and right will prevail."

"Maybe we shall see it do so," he answered shortly, not seeming
willing to hold much converse with me; "but it is likely that you
go to your death on the wide sea. Many a man have I shriven at the
point of death--and Ulfkytel the Earl will not hold me back from
your side--an you will."

Thereat I was very glad, for I knew that the risks before me were
very great, and I said as much.

Then he took the bridle of my horse and began to lead me on one
side, and the guards hindered him until Ulfkytel shouted to them to
draw aside in such wise as to prevent my riding off, though, bound
as I was, it had been of little use to try to do so. Then they let
the priest take me out of earshot, and maybe posted themselves in
some way round us, though I heeded them not.

So then in that strange way I, bound and on horseback, confessed;
and weeping over me at last, with all his coldness forgotten, the
priest of Burgh shrived me and blessed me, bidding me keep a good
heart; for, if not in this world, then at the last would all be
made right, and I should have honour.

After that he went once more to Beorn, but he was deaf to his
pleading, and so he went away to the church, speaking no word to
any man, and with his head bent as with the w