John suddenly.
The face of the other changed as abruptly. His eyes became pin-points
under his grey eyebrows and his mouth tightened.
"What of him?" he said.
"It was reported that you might have stayed the execution, and would
not. I did not believe a word of it."
"It is true," said Mr. Bassett sharply--"at least a portion of it."
"True?"
"Listen," cried the other suddenly, "and tell me what you would have
done. Mr. Sutton was taken, and was banished, and came back again, as
any worthy priest would do. Then he was taken again, and condemned. I
did my utmost to save him, but I could not. Then, as I would never have
any part in the death of a priest for his religion, another was
appointed to carry the execution through. Three days before news was
brought to me by a private hand that Mr. Sutton had promised to give the
names of priests whom he knew, and of houses where he had said mass, and
I know not what else; and it was said to me that I might on this account
stay the execution until he had told all that he could. Now I knew that
I could not save his life altogether; that was forfeited and there could
be no forgiveness. All that I might do was to respite him for a
little--and for what? That he might damn his own soul eternally and
bring a great number of good men into trouble and peril of death for
themselves. I sent the messenger away again, and said that I would
listen to no such tales. And Mr. Sutton died like a good priest three
days after, repenting, I doubt not, bitterly, of the weakness into which
he had fallen.
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