"I am satisfied," he went on, "that there is no evidence at all against the prisoner except the story of a spy, who says she believes her to be a vagrant heretic of bad character who escaped from the stake several years ago in the neighbourhood of Brussels, whither it is scarcely worth while to send to inquire about the matter.
So that charge may drop.

There remains the question as to whether or no the prisoner uttered certain words this afternoon, which, if she did utter them, are undoubtedly worthy of the death that, under my authority as acting commandant of this town, I have power to inflict.

This question I foresaw, and that is why I asked the Senora, to whom the woman is alleged to have spoken the words, to accompany me here to give evidence.

She has done so, and her evidence on oath as against the statement of a spy woman not on oath, is that no such words were spoken.
This being so, as the Senora is a good Catholic whom I have no reason to disbelieve, I order the release of the prisoner, whom for my part I take for nothing more than a crazy and harmless wanderer." "At least you will detain her till I can prove that she is the heretic who escaped from the stake near Brussels," shouted Black Meg.
"I will do nothing of the sort; the prison here is over-full already.
Untie her arms and let her go." The soldiers obeyed, wondering somewhat, and the Mare scrambled to her feet.

For a moment she stood looking at her deliverer.