He led me, thus talking, out of church. Now, as we left the churchyard, there passed through the gates--oh, baleful omen!--four men carrying between them a bier. Upon it was the body of another poor prisoner, dead of jail fever. I think that even the hard heart of Benjamin--now my husband!--oh! merciful Heavens! he was my husband!--quailed, and was touched with fear at meeting this most sure and certain sign of coming woe, for he muttered something in his teeth, and cursed the bearers aloud for not choosing another time. My husband, then--I must needs call him my husband--told me, brutally, that I must ride with him to Exeter, where I should myself bear the joyful news of their safety to his cousins. I did not take that journey, nor did I bear the news, nor did I ever after that moment set eyes upon him again, nor did I ever speak to him again. His wife I remained, I suppose, because I was joined to him in church. But I never saw him after that morning. And the reason why you shall now hear. At the door of our lodging, which was, you know, hard by the church, stood Mr. Boscorel himself. 'What means this?' he asked, with looks troubled and confused. 'What doth it mean, Benjamin? What hath happened, in the name of God?' 'Sir,' said Benjamin, 'you know my character. You will acknowledge that I am not one of those who are easily turned from their purpose. Truly, the occasion is not favourable for a wedding, but yet I present to you my newly-married wife.' '_Thy_ wife! Child, _he_ thy husband? Why, thou art betrothed to Robin! Hath the world gone crazy? Do I hear aright? Is this--this--this--a time to be marrying? Hast thou not heard? Hast thou not heard, I say?' 'Brother-in-law,' said Madam, 'it is to save the lives of all that this is done.' '"To save the lives of all?"' Mr. Boscorel repeated. 'Why--why--hath not Benjamin, then, told what hath happened, and what hath been done?' 'No, Sir, I have not,' said his son. 'I had other fish to fry.' 'Not told them? Is it possible?' 'Benjamin hath promised to save all their lives if this child would marry him. To save their lives hath Alice consented, and I with her. He will save them through his great friendship with Judge Jeffreys.' 'Benjamin to save their lives? Sirrah'--he turned to his son with great wrath in his face--'what villainy is this? Thou hast promised to save their lives? What villainy, I say, is this? Sister-in-law, did he not tell you what hath been done?' 'He has told us nothing. Oh! is there new misery?'