第77章

Thevictimofherwitcheriescanonlynamethefatalscroll，thespellinscribedonwhichis，doubtless，thecauseofhissilence。’’

ButRebeccaputanotherinterpretationonthewordsextortedasitwerefromBois-Guilbert，andglancinghereyeupontheslipofparchmentwhichshecontinuedtoholdinherhand，shereadwrittenthereuponintheArabiancharacter，_DemandaChampion！_ThemurmuringcommentarywhichranthroughtheassemblyatthestrangereplyofBois-Guilbert，gaveRebeccaleisuretoexamineandinstantlytodestroythescrollunobserved。Whenthewhisperhadceased，theGrandMasterspoke。

``Rebecca，thoucanstderivenobenefitfromtheevidenceofthisunhappyknight，forwhom，aswewellperceive，theEnemyisyettoopowerful。Hastthouaughtelsetosay?’’

``Thereisyetonechanceoflifelefttome，’’saidRebecca，``evenbyyourownfiercelaws。Lifehasbeenmiserable——miserable，atleast，oflate——butI

willnotcastawaythegiftofGod，whileheaffordsmethemeansofdefendingit。Idenythischarge——Imaintainmyinnocence，andIdeclarethefalsehoodofthisaccusation——Ichallengetheprivilegeoftrialbycombat，andwillappearbymychampion。’’

``Andwho，Rebecca，’’repliedtheGrandMaster，``willlaylanceinrestforasorceress?whowillbethechampionofaJewess?’’

``Godwillraisemeupachampion，’’saidRebecca——

``ItcannotbethatinmerryEngland——thehospitable，thegenerous，thefree，wheresomanyarereadytoperiltheirlivesforhonour，therewillnotbefoundonetofightforjustice。ButitisenoughthatIchallengethetrialbycombat——thereliesmygage。’’

Shetookherembroideredglovefromherhand，andflungitdownbeforetheGrandMasterwithanairofmingledsimplicityanddignity，whichexciteduniversalsurpriseandadmiration。

CHAPTERXXXVIII——

ThereIthrowmygage，ToproveitontheetotheextremestpointOfmartialdaring。

_RichardII。_

EvenLucasBeaumanoirhimselfwasaffectedbythemienandappearanceofRebecca。Hewasnotoriginallyacruelorevenasevereman；butwithpassionsbynaturecold，andwithahigh，thoughmistaken，senseofduty，hishearthadbeengraduallyhardenedbytheasceticlifewhichhepursued，thesupremepowerwhichheenjoyed，andthesupposednecessityofsubduinginfidelityanderadicatingheresy，whichheconceivedpeculiarlyincumbentonhim。Hisfeaturesrelaxedintheirusualseverityashegazeduponthebeautifulcreaturebeforehim，alone，unfriended，anddefendingherselfwithsomuchspiritandcourage。Hecrossedhimselftwice，asdoubtingwhencearosetheunwontedsofteningofaheart，whichonsuchoccasionsusedtoresembleinhardnessthesteelofhissword。Atlengthhespoke。

``Damsel，’’hesaid，``ifthepityIfeelfortheearisefromanypracticethineevilartshavemadeonme，greatisthyguilt。ButIratherjudgeitthekinderfeelingsofnature，whichgrievesthatsogoodlyaformshouldbeavesselofperdition。Repent，mydaughter——confessthywitchcrafts——turntheefromthineevilfaith——embracethisholyemblem，andallshallyetbewellwiththeehereandhereafter。Insomesisterhoodofthestrictestorder，shaltthouhavetimeforprayerandfittingpenance，andthatrepentancenottoberepentedof。Thisdoandlive——whathasthelawofMosesdonefortheethatthoushouldestdieforit?’’

``Itwasthelawofmyfathers，’’saidRebecca；

``itwasdeliveredinthundersandinstormsuponthemountainofSinai，incloudandinfire。This，ifyeareChristians，yebelieve——itis，yousay，recalled；

butsomyteachershavenottaughtme。’’

``Letourchaplain，’’saidBeaumanoir，``standforth，andtellthisobstinateinfidel——’’

``Forgivetheinterruption，’’saidRebecca，meekly；

``Iamamaiden，unskilledtodisputeformyreligion，butIcandieforit，ifitbeGod’swill——

Letmeprayyouranswertomydemandofachampion。’’

``Givemeherglove，’’saidBeaumanoir。``Thisisindeed，’’hecontinued，ashelookedattheflimsytextureandslenderfingers，``aslightandfrailgageforapurposesodeadly！——Seestthou，Rebecca，asthisthinandlightgloveofthineistooneofour