"The impelling of the Divine Spirit, whom you had profaned, and who in justice so distracted you, as to lead you blindly to your own destruction--no marvel the darkness oppressed, and the storm appalled you; or that heaven in its wrath should ordain the events you yourself have described--the fall over your own victim, and the horror thence proceeding.

We have heard that your early years have been honorable, Senor Stanley, and to such, guilt is appalling even in its accomplishment.

Methinks, Father Francis, we need now but the evidence of the premeditation." "Your pardon, brother; but such, conclusions are somewhat over-hasty.
It is scarcely probable, had Senor Stanley returned after the committal of such a deed, that his reentrance should not have been heard as well as his departure; whereas the witness expressly declares, that though her attention was awakened by the previous faint sound, and she listened frequently, she never heard another movement, till her master and mistress's return; and as they went into the Senor's room directly, and found him without the very least appearance of having moved, justice compels us to incline to the belief in Senor Stanley's suggestion--that he could scarcely have had sufficient time to rouse, depart, do murder, and feign sleep during Pedro Benito's brief interval of absence." "We will grant that so it may be, Reverend Father, but what proof have we that the murder had not been just committed when the body and the assassin were discovered ?" Father Francis replied, by commanding the appearance of Don Ferdinand's steward, and after the customary formula, inquired what hour his late lamented master had quitted his mansion the night of the murder.

The man replied, without hesitation, "Exactly as the chimes played the quarter before nine." "But was not that unusually early?
The hour of meeting at the castle was ten, and the distance from Don Ferdinand's mansion not twenty minutes' ride, and scarce forty minutes' walk.

Are you perfectly certain as to the hour ?" "I can take my oath upon it, your Reverence, and Lopez will say the same.