Why were those tapers burning in the side chapel?
What was within it?
He looked again, and beheld two uncovered biers.

On one lay the body of a woman.

He started.
In the beautiful, but fierce features of the dead, he beheld the witch, Bess Demdike.

She was gone to her account before him.

The malediction he had pronounced upon her child had killed her.
Appalled, he turned to the other bier, and recognised Cuthbert Ashbead.
He shuddered, but comforted himself that he was at least guiltless of his death; though he had a strange feeling that the poor forester had in some way perished for him.
But his attention was diverted towards a tall monk in the Cistertian habit, standing between the bodies, with the cowl drawn over his face.
As Paslew gazed at him, the monk slowly raised his hood, and partially disclosed features that smote the abbot as if he had beheld a spectre.
Could it be?
Could fancy cheat him thus?
He looked again.