“Never!” exclaimed Asaph, resolutely. “Never will I bend knee to Jezebel. I came not to her to sue for mercy, but to tax her with her crimes, and warn her of her end. Her punishment is at hand. Deeply hath she sinned against the Lord and she shall die. I have pronounced her doom. The servants of the Lord are in array against her. The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken.”
As he finished speaking, he drew forth a pistol, which he had contrived to conceal in his accoutrements, and levelled it at the countess.
So sudden was the act that neither the musketeers nor Captain Ogle could prevent him from discharging the weapon.
No doubt the shot would have been fatal if Gertrude, who had watched him narrowly, and divined his purpose, had not placed herself before her noble mistress, and received in her breast the bullet intended for her—thus preserving the countess’s life at the sacrifice of her own.
A cry of horror burst from all around. Rising from her seat at the moment, Lady Derby caught her preserver in her arms, while the young ladies Stanley crowded round eager to render aid.
The wretch who had done the dreadful deed, looked on aghast—his features expressing the most terrible mental anguish.
“I meant not to kill her,” he cried, almost piteously. “I would have died rather than harm her. Let me obtain her forgiveness, and I will go with you to instant death.”
“Thou shalt go to instant death, thou execrable assassin,” cried Captain Ogle, “but without the forgiveness of thy innocent victim, that thy soul may be sent to the perdition thou so justly meritest.”
Asaph made no further resistance, but was hurried by the musketeers to the small court at the back of the chapel, where it may be remembered a wall had been knocked down by a grenado.
They were followed by Major Farrington and Captain Ogle.
At the door of the chapel they met Doctor Brideoake, who wished to pray with the murderer, but the wretched man sternly rejected the kindly offer.
Though the party moved on as quickly as possible, they were joined by several other musketeers and some of the servants, whose maledictions Asaph had to bear. But he seemed insensible to them, and entirely occupied by silent prayer.
On reaching their destination the two musketeers, who had never quitted their hold of the prisoner, took him to the further end of the little court.
Captain Ogle then bade him take off his buff coat and kneel down, and again asked if the chaplain should pray with him.
“We do not desire to destroy thy soul,” he said.
The offer was rejected as sternly as before, but the murderer begged to be allowed a few minutes to make his peace with Heaven.
This was granted, and the musketeers stayed by him till he had stripped off his accoutrements.
They then withdrew, and joined their comrades, who now numbered nearly a score, at the other end of the court.
The wretch then knelt down, and after passing a few minutes in earnest supplication, held up his hands.
At the signal, more than a dozen muskets were fired, and the assassin fell with his face to the ground, his body being completely riddled with shot.
None pitied him, but several spurned the bleeding carcase, as they would a dead dog.
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XXVI
Of Gertrude’s last Parting with Standish
MEANWHILE, the wounded damsel had been carefully transported to her own chamber, and laid upon the small bed with which it was furnished.
When Master Holbrook, the surgeon of the garrison, and a man of great skill, entered the room, she had become insensible, and the countess and her daughters, who, with Archdeacon Rutter, were the only persons present, almost feared she had expired.
No pulsation could be felt by the countess, who had placed her hand on the luckless damsel’s wrist. How beautiful she looked even under these sad circumstances! Her eyes were closed, and the colour had fled from her cheeks, but the exquisite outline of her features was perfectly preserved. Her fair tresses having become unbound, streamed on the couch. Even the surgeon, who was rarely touched by such spectacles, was greatly moved.