He hath borne himself like to his own father.'
The air being filled with applause, Tom's ear necessarily caught a
little of it. The effect which this had upon him was to put him
greatly at his ease, and also to charge his system with very
gratifying sensations.
However, his juvenile curiosity soon rose superior to these
pleasant thoughts and feelings; he was eager to know what sort of
deadly mischief the woman and the little girl could have been about;
so, by his command the two terrified and sobbing creatures were
brought before him.
'What is it that these have done?' he inquired of the sheriff.
'Please your majesty, a black crime is charged upon them, and
clearly proven; wherefore the judges have decreed, according to the
law, that they be hanged. They sold themselves to the devil- such is
their crime.'
Tom shuddered. He had been taught to abhor people who did this
wicked thing. Still, he was not going to deny himself the pleasure
of feeding his curiosity, for all that; so he asked:
'Where was this done?- and when?'
'On a midnight, in December- in a ruined church, your majesty.'
Tom shuddered again. 'Who was there present?'
'Only these two, your grace- and that other.'
'Have these confessed?'
'Nay, not so, sire- they do deny it.'
'Then, prithee, how was it known?'
'Certain witnesses did see them wending thither, good your
majesty; this bred the suspicion, and dire effects have since
confirmed and justified it.
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