A sword was passed through me from back to breast, whilst he who did it cursed me with a foul oath.

The room grew dim; methought it swayed and that the walls were tottering; there was a buzz of sound in my ears, then a piercing cry in a baby voice.

At the sound of it I vaguely wished for the strength to rise.

As in the distance, I heard one of those butchers cry, "Haste, man; slit me that squalling bastard's throat!" And then I must have swooned." Kenneth shuddered.
"My God, how horrible!" he cried.

"But you were avenged, Sir Crispin," he added eagerly; "you were avenged ?" "When I regained consciousness," Crispin continued, as if he had not heard Kenneth's exclamation, "the cottage was in flames, set alight by them to burn the evidence of their foul deed.