Then I drew back and stood with bent head, speaking no word. Now the Dominican motioned to all to take the places where they had stood before and asked her:
‘Erring sister, have you aught to say before you are silent for ever?’
‘Yes,’ she answered in a clear, sweet voice, that never even quavered, so bold had she become since she learned that her death would be swift and easy. ‘Yes, I have this to say, that I go to my end with a clean heart, for if I have sinned it is against custom and not against God. I broke the vows indeed, but I was forced to take those vows, and, therefore, they did not bind. I was a woman born for light and love, and yet I was thrust into the darkness of this cloister, there to wither dead in life. And so I broke the vows, and I am glad that I have broken them, though it has brought me to this. If I was deceived and my marriage is no marriage before the law as they tell me now, I knew nothing of it, therefore to me it is still valid and holy and on my soul there rests no stain. At the least I have lived, and for some few hours I have been wife and mother, and it is as well to die swiftly in this cell that your mercy has prepared, as more slowly in those above. And now for you–I tell you that your wickedness shall find you out, you who dare to say to God’s children–“Ye shall not love,” and to work murder on them because they will not listen. It shall find you out I say, and not only you but the Church you serve. Both priest and Church shall be broken together and shall be a scorn in the mouths of men to come.’
‘She is distraught,’ said the Dominican as a sigh of fear and wonder went round the vault, ‘and blasphemes in her madness. Forget her words. Shrive her, brother, swiftly ere she adds to them.’
Then the black-robed, keen-eyed priest came to her, and holding the cross before her face, began to mutter I know not what. But she rose from the chair and thrust the crucifix aside.
‘Peace!’ she said, ‘I will not be shriven by such as you. I take my sins to God and not to you–you who do murder in the name of Christ.’
The fanatic heard and a fury took him.
‘Then go unshriven down to hell, you–‘ and he named her by ill names and struck her in the face with the ivory crucifix.
The Dominican bade him cease his revilings angrily enough, but Isabella de Siguenza wiped her bruised brow and laughed aloud a dreadful laugh to hear.
‘Now I see that you are a coward also,’ she said. ‘Priest, this is my last prayer, that you also may perish at the hands of fanatics, and more terribly than I die to-night.’
Then they hurried her into the place prepared for her and she spoke again:
‘Give me to drink, for we thirst, my babe and I!’
Now I saw the abbess enter that passage whence the victim had been led. Presently she came back bearing a cup of water in her hand and with it a loaf of bread, and I knew by her mien that my draught was in the water. But of what befell afterwards I cannot say certainly, for I prayed the Dominican to open the door by which we had entered the vault, and passing through it I stood dazed with horror at some distance. A while went by, I do not know how long, till at length I saw the abbess standing before me, a lantern in her hand, and she was sobbing bitterly.
‘All is done,’ she said. ‘Nay, have no fear, the draught worked well. Before ever a stone was laid mother and child slept sound. Alas for her soul who died unrepentant and unshriven!’
‘Alas for the souls of all who have shared in this night’s work,’ I answered. ‘Now, mother, let me hence, and may we never meet again!’