bodies, nor to shed a drop
of their blood." He said this, not only knowing that the prisoners were
to be executed, but having especially arranged that they should be so--
having, indeed, a few days before, acquainted the judge with the number
of prisoners to be delivered over to him, in order that the required
quantity of stakes, faggots, and other things necessary for the
execution might be in readiness. The canons of the Romish Church,
however, denounced against ecclesiastics who should be accessory to the
inflicting of any bodily injury, and the above-mentioned expressions
were used to avoid the censure of irregularity. The magistrates, on
their part, swore that they would faithfully execute the sentences
against the persons of the heretics delivered over to them.

All these ceremonies--audacious mockery of justice--occupied several
hours; and now the condemned prisoners were compelled to march in front
of the royal box, and pass those who had by recanting escaped the
extreme penalty of the law. Again Antonio Herezuelo looked eagerly at
the black penitents. What an expression of agony was seen to rise on
his countenance as he beheld among them his beloved Leonor, the wife of
his bosom, formerly united to him, as he supposed, in the one blessed
faith and hope which animated his own soul. Who could paint the
feelings which passed through his swelling heart? He would have given
worlds to have been able to utter a loving entreaty to her again to take
hold of the blessed truths of which he was even then reaping the
fruition; but the gag prevented him. One prayer he breathed from the
depths of his soul for her, and as he passed he cast at her a look of
such unutterable agony, yet of such loving reproof and regret, that,
like the lightning's flash, it went to her heart. Well she understood
its meaning. "Oh, my beloved Leonor," it seemed to say, "why did you
not seek for grace to hold fast to the truth, and for strength to go
through the fiery trial, that, as we have lived happily together on
earth, we might have ascended together to be ever with our risen Lord
and Saviour?"

Full well she understood that silent appeal. It sunk into her heart.
"Yes, yes, my Antonio, I will join you," she exclaimed, stretching out
her hands towards him. In vain she made the attempt to rush into his
arms, for the cruel familiars held her back. In vain she struggled.
She saw that to join her beloved lord in life was hopeless. Sh