The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

THE SEXTET. 335
ghastly cold skeleton. What will you do
if he puts his slimy arms round your neck ?"
" Virgin ! Virgin ! that's he. I
felt something cold to my neck. Ah, there's
nothing. Holy Father, stay with me ; at
least grant me absolution, and sprinkle the
place with holy water."
" I'll take care of you, if you'll let me
see the prisoner. Here is something that
will protect you which I can lend you ;" so
saying, the monk pulled out of his pocket
a parchment, on which was printed in large
red characters, ' Pro Conversione Hcereti-
corum.'
" This will save you ; where' s my taper ?
You see these great red letters, though
you cannot read them. This is the colour
of which devils and ghosts are afraid. If
Satan should show his nose here at all,
throw that in his face, and by Pope Urban
VII., who was Pope for twelve days, I'm
no Franciscan if he does not vanish in
twelve seconds."