I therefore prefer to give the altar of mine idol a new worshipper in thee, Catharine.

This scrap of parchment will tell thee how to make your way into my chapel, where I have worshipped so often in safety.

I leave the images which it contains to thee as a legacy, simply because I hate and contemn thee something less than any of the absurd wretches whom I have hitherto been obliged to call fellow creatures.

And now away--or remain and see if the end of the quacksalver belies his life." "Our Lady forbid!" said Catharine.
"Nay," said the mediciner, "I have but a single word to say, and yonder nobleman's valiancie may hear it if he will." Lord Balveny approached, with some curiosity; for the undaunted resolution of a man who never wielded sword or bore armour and was in person a poor dwindled dwarf, had to him an air of something resembling sorcery." "You see this trifling implement," said the criminal, showing the silver pen.

"By means of this I can escape the power even of the Black Douglas." "Give him no ink nor paper," said Balveny, hastily, "he will draw a spell." "Not so, please your wisdom and valiancie--he, he, he!" said Dwining with his usual chuckle, as he unscrewed the top of the pen, within which was a piece of sponge or some such substance, no bigger than a pea.
"Now, mark this--" said the prisoner, and drew it between his lips.
The effect was instantaneous.