The hag renewed some half obliterated marks with chalk, which represented a circle inscribed in a pentagon, and motioned Sir John to stand beside her within its protection,--“Not a foot or hand outside,” she said earnestly; then she repeated some mystic words in an unknown tongue; a mephytic vapour arose, the pool boiled like a geyser, the cave appeared to tremble, and a deep voice said--
“Ask thy question at once,” whispered the witch.
“Where may I meet my foes?” said Sir John.
“In the Abbot’s lodging, within the ruined Abbey, at the third midnight from hence.”
All was still, the pool became quiet, the atmosphere cleared, and the hag seizing the hand of Sir John began to retrace her steps. To him the whole seemed like a dream.
But is it not possible that HE, Who sent an evil spirit into the mouths of the false prophets of Ahab, to lure him to his doom at Ramoth Gilead, and permitted the witch of Endor, not by any power of her own, to raise up the spirit of Samuel, that he might foretell to the unhappy Saul his coming fate; that HE allowed the instrumentality of this wretched victim of a terrible delusion, to accomplish his end--that end which the progress of our tale will reveal as the direct consequence of this episode.
With difficulty Sir John dragged his failing limbs back to the hut, and for a time he and the hag sat by the fire, all in a tremor. She seemed as shaken as he: perhaps she, too, had been taken aback by the phenomenon, when simply preparing some jugglery.
At length Sir John rose, like one from stupor.
“Mother, here is money for thee; keep the secret.”
“Or it would cost me my life; but, Sir John, beware of the Abbey at midnight, I fear _he_ means thee harm.”
“What would become of me wert thou gone?”
He shook his head and returned to Nicholas.
“So wouldst thou be hadst thou been with us.”
“She is useful just now, and ministers to our designs.”
Not one word did Sir John speak all the ride homeward; perhaps he hesitated in his purpose, but at length his mind was made up.
They supped together, Nicholas waiting on his lord, but yet enjoying the privilege of supping at the same table.
After supper, as they discussed some hot sack, the patron said--
“Nicholas, I wish thee to go out on the western road which leads from Glastonbury to Exeter, and thou mayst pass the night at the ‘_Robin Hood_;’ I have a strange impression our mutual friends will stop there to-morrow night. If thou meetest them stick to them like a leech, and follow them, thyself unseen, if possible, to Glastonbury; then join me in the Abbey, and we will await them there; it is their purpose, I am sure, to enter that secret chamber and destroy the papers, and I would fain seize them in the act, and so learn the great secret.”