m, has
denied the Holy Trinity, and praised the works of Servetus and
Blandrata. You know as well as I do that he is in reality a heretic,
deserving therefore of any punishment. As to your silly assignation
with his daughter you have only to say, that you wished to prove to
your satisfaction, whether she in reality did go at suspicious hours to
the Kreuzweg, as had been reported to you. It is lucky that your
presence at Speyer on that very evening can be proved. The Rector will
testify that you were with him at ten o'clock. Do you consent? Answer!"

"Erastus has never stated to me that he was an Arian," answered the
prisoner shortly.

"That is a matter of indifference," said Pigavetta impatiently. "You
know how many Doctors of our order permit the probable to be sworn to
as the veritable, if by so doing the greater evil can be avoided, of
permitting a culprit to escape unpunished, and to continue raging
against the Church."

"I know that it is written: 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against
thy neighbour,'" replied Paul in a quiet voice.

"Childishness," cried Pigavetta angrily. "I charge you _in obedientia
majoris_, to testify to this statement. You have nothing to do with the
responsibility, I take that on myself."

"The pangs of conscience which I have suffered, have not been borne for
me by any superior;" said Paul in a tone of mild reproof. "I have felt,
that if a man carries hell in his own heart, all the blessings of the
Church cannot bring back his peace of mind. I cannot live with a
threefold or tenfold murder on my conscience. No Priest's absolution
would drive away the shades of Erastus or Lydia from my couch."

"You are in love," rejoined Pigavetta mockingly.

Paul kept silence.

"In that case I can help you," continued Pigavetta in an easy tone. "I
shall cause Lydia to be brought here, then you can have it all your own
way. Witches' trials often last for years, and here you have plenty of
elbow room. She will not be the first who was tamed in the witches'
chamber."

"Satan," answered Paul shuddering.

"Hear me, young fop," hissed Pigavetta, "my patience is now at an end.
You know what the consequences of your disobedience will be. What the
judges will do with your bones I will not speak of, that is your affair
and theirs. But what we shall do, that I can tell you. The order expels
you, and do not believe that you will ever again find peace on earth.
The sort of man you are, lies depicted in