ir the hue of the ruby succeeded."

"Didst thou know the purpose for which he bought the drug?"

"My lord, I did not, nor do I know now; my humble occupations do
not lead me amongst the mighty of the land, save when they seek my
humble shop."

"Still thine offence, Jew," said the stern voice of the Conqueror,
"is a damnable one, and lendest itself readily to the purposes of
crime.

"Let the unbeliever be removed in custody.

"My lord of Canterbury, he is a heretic--perchance a sorcerer; let
the Church see to him."

And so the poor Jew was removed to his dungeon.

"And now with your favour," said Geoffrey, "I would ask a few
questions of the prisoner, in your presence."

"The permission is given," said William.

Wilfred was again conducted before the court.

"Thou hast dared to brand thy late stepfather as the poisoner of
thy mother; wilt thou state any cause or justification thou mayest
have, over and above that indicated by the letter and confession we
have read?"

"I did not dream of such guilt before I heard that confession,
months after the death of my mother."

"Hadst thou ever seen medicine administered to her?"

"Frequently, by the baron her second husband himself. He called it
the elixir of life, and stated he had obtained it at a high price,
from a noted Jewish physician."

"What was its colour?"

"A drop only was let fall into water, which it tinged with a
greenish hue, as of a sapphire."

"Didst thou mark any peculiarity?"

"On one occasion, when, owing to very sudden sickness, the medicine
was not taken, my sister and I marked with surprise, that the
medicine thus diluted had changed to a crimson colour."

General sensation. Etienne hid his face in his mantle; the
churchman and nobles conferred together. William spoke:

"Thou hast thy lesson perfect, boy. Didst thou ever see this Jew
Abraham?"

"Never; or he had not lived to tell thee."

"Then there is no possible collusion between the witnesses--I
appeal to thee, my lord of Coutances?"

"None; I will answer for it as a bishop. It was a providential
thought, which led me to interrogate the Jew respecting the
appearance of the medicine, and one utterly unpremeditated."

"Remove the prisoner," said the king.

While Wilfred was absent, William conferred with his lords
spiritual and temporal. This was no court wherein the popular
element found place; the whole issue of the trial lay with the
mighty chieftain--the rest were but h