s
nursing her dying mother in the village.

Edith's attack was a very severe one. Walter, alone now, for Ralph,
although convalescent, had not yet left his bed, sat by his wife's
bedside a prey to anxiety and grief; for although she had resisted the
first attack she was now, thirty-six hours after it had seized her, fast
sinking. Gradually her sight and power of speech faded, and she sank
into the state of coma which was the prelude of death, and lay quiet and
motionless, seeming as if life had already departed. Suddenly Walter was
surprised by the sound of many heavy feet ascending the stairs. He went
out into the ante-room to learn the cause of this strange tumult, when
five armed men, one of whom was masked, rushed into the room. Walter
caught up his sword from the table.

"Ruffians," he exclaimed, "how dare you desecrate the abode of death?"

Without a word the men sprang upon him. For a minute he defended himself
against their attacks, but he was still weak, his guard was beaten down,
and a blow felled him to the ground.

"Now settle her," the masked man exclaimed, and the band rushed into the
adjoining room. They paused, however, at the door at the sight of the
lifeless figure on the couch.

"We are saved that trouble," one said, "we have come too late."

The masked figure approached the couch and bent over the figure.

"Yes," he said, "she is dead, and so much the better."

Then he returned with the others to Walter.

"He breathes yet," he said. "He needs a harder blow than that you gave
him to finish him. Let him lie here for a while, while you gather your
booty together; then we will carry him off. There is scarcely a soul
alive in the country round, and none will note us as we pass. I would
not despatch him here, seeing that his body would be found with wounds
upon it, and even in these times some inquiry might be made; therefore
it were best to finish him elsewhere. When he is missed it will be
supposed that he went mad at the death of his wife, and has wandered
out and died, may be in the woods, or has drowned himself in a pond or
stream. Besides, I would that before he dies he should know what hand
has struck the blow, and that my vengeance, which he slighted and has
twice escaped, has overtaken him at last."

After ransacking the principal rooms and taking all that was valuable,
the band of marauders lifted the still insensible body of Walter, and
carrying it down-stairs flung it across a horse.