and she says, that you showed her a real rose, which you
plucked from the stone wreath over the gate."

"Ah, that was only a joke."

"A joke ... we will teach you to make such jokes. How often have you
ridden out to the White Stone on a broom?"

"Never, certainly never."

"And to the Auerkopf?"

"Never."

"And never to the hollow Chestnut-tree, Dachsbau, or the Nistler?"

"I swear to you I know nothing about all this."

"I am sorry for you little one," said the old woman, and at that moment
she resembled a snake, taking pity on the terrified rabbit. "You are
such a nice-looking girl. Confess before it is too late. Think only, of
being hung up by a rope and heavy and heavier weights being fastened to
your small feet. Oh! dear, oh! dear, how that hurts. None as yet have
been able to hold out. Think of the suffering and disgrace inflicted
upon you!"

Lydia raised her apron which she bit in mute despair. Her eyes turned
pale with horror. She sat there an image of grief, of madness. She
heard no longer what the old woman kept repeating. A cold shiver shook
her body backwards and forwards. The executioner now himself stepped up
and made indecent remarks to her, which however she did not understand.
At last the old woman got angry and seizing hold of her by the hair,
hauled her up and down: "Confess, you obstinate creature! When did you
attend the black mass?" But Lydia felt it not. "Don't make such a
to-do," said the executioner. "When she is hanging from the rope, it
will all come back to her." Lydia gazed vacantly at him. "Were you not
already known as the bewitched maiden at the Stift?" cried he
furiously.

"Yes I was, I was!" sobbed the poor child overpowered by grief and
fright. "See, she has confessed," said the executioner. "Get out, I
have enough of this whimpering." And he aimed a blow with his keys at
his wife, who obediently quitted the room. Lydia was once more alone,
faintness and weakness deadened her pain, and as the intense heat in
the small cell diminished owing to the torrents of rain which poured
down outside, she fell asleep. When she awoke with a start out of her
lethargy, she heard the bells of the Holy Ghost chime the midnight
hour. Her head felt dazed. The examination made by those two horrible
creatures entirely confused her mind. The confidence with which she had
been told that she was guilty, had bewildered her. She could herself
scarcely think, but that through her own guilt she had fa