hat?" gasped Adrian.

"Explain to him," said the Master. "He is quite right; a man should know
what he puts his name to."

Then a monk spoke in a low, business-like voice.

"This is the information of Adrian, called Van Goorl, as taken down from
his own lips, wherein, among other things, he deposes to certain crimes
of heresy, murder of the king's subjects, an attempted escape from
the king's dominions, committed by his stepfather, Dirk van Goorl, his
half-brother, Foy van Goorl, and their servant, a Frisian known as Red
Martin. Shall I read the papers? It will take some time."

"If the witness so desires," said the Master.

"What is that document for?" whispered Adrian in a hoarse voice.

"To persuade your treacherous rival, Foy van Goorl, that it will be
desirable in the interests of his health that he should retire from
Leyden for a while," sneered his late mentor, while the Butcher and
Black Meg sniggered audibly. Only the monk stood silent, like a black
watching fate.

"I'll not sign!" shouted Adrian. "I have been tricked! There is
treachery!" and he bent forward to spring for the door.

Ramiro made a sign, and in another instant the Butcher's fat hands were
about Adrian's throat, and his thick thumbs were digging viciously at
the victim's windpipe. Still Adrian kicked and struggled, whereon, at a
second sign, the villainous-looking man drew a great knife, and, coming
up to him, pricked him gently on the nose.

Then Ramiro spoke to him very suavely and quietly.

"Young friend," he said, "where is that faith in me which you promised,
and why, when I wish you to sign this quite harmless writing, do you so
violently refuse?"

"Because I won't betray my stepfather and brother," gasped Adrian. "I
know why you want my signature," and he looked at the man in a priest's
robe.

"You won't betray them," sneered Ramiro. "Why, you young fool, you have
already betrayed them fifty times over, and what is more, which you
don't seem to remember, you have betrayed yourself. Now look here. If
you choose to sign that paper, or if you don't choose, makes little
difference to me, for, dear pupil, I would almost as soon have your
evidence by word of mouth."

"I may be a fool," said Adrian, turning sullen; "yes, I see now that I
have been a fool to trust in you and your sham arts, but I am not fool
enough to give evidence against my own people in any of your courts.
What I have said I said never thinking that it would do