"You are scarcely likely to meet him," returned Sudall, "for, as I have said, he has left the forest. But to return to my story. The marriage state was little suitable to Bess Demdike, and in five years she contrived to free herself from her husband's restraint, and ruled alone in the tower. Her malignant influence now began to be felt throughout the whole district, and by dint of menaces and positive acts of mischief, she extorted all she required. Whosoever refused her requests speedily experienced her resentment. When she was in the fulness of her power, a rival sprang up in the person of Anne Whittle, since known by the name of Chattox, which she obtained in marriage, and this woman disputed Bess Demdike's supremacy. Each strove to injure the adherents of her rival--and terrible was the mischief they wrought. In the end, however, Mother Demdike got the upper hand. Years have flown over the old hag's head, and her guilty career has been hitherto attended with impunity. Plans have been formed to bring her to justice, but they have ever failed. And so in the case of old Chattox. Her career has been as baneful and as successful as that of Mother Demdike." "But their course is wellnigh run," said Potts, "and the time is come for the extirpation of the old serpents." "Ah! who is that at the window?" cried Sudall; "but that you are sitting near me, I should declare you were looking in at us." "It must be Master Potts's brother, the reeve of the forest," observed Nicholas, with a laugh. "Heed him not," cried the attorney, angrily, "but let us have the promised legend of Malkin Tower." "Willingly!" replied the chirurgeon. "But before I begin I must recruit myself with a can of ale." The flagon being set before him, Sudall commenced his story: The Legend of Malkin Tower.