The Earl took the parcel and secreted it beneath his cloak; then, rising once more, approached the mortal remains of John de Vere; once more he looked on the brother of his youth, and could scarce believe him capable of such atrocities. What a life had his been! The wild, cruel boy had grown up the careless, dare-devil, vicious, young man, the infamous desperado whose power and malice terrified the whole of Southern Italy! But death pays all debts, says the poet, and even here it hid a multitude of sins. There were softer memories connected with the departed: He had been the child who had shared his childish amusements; the youth with whom he had hunted, ridden, and shot; the young man with whom he shared many a scene of joy or danger. In these associations he forgot how, while he ate his bread, he had been intriguing against him; how he had plotted to procure his misery, and, by unparalleled dissimulation, seemed his friend whilst he was his worst foe,--despite all, he was his brother still. The fixed eye, the pale brow, the lifeless face asked his pity; the tears started in the good Earl's eyes as he bent over all that was once John Captain de Vere, and it was some time ere he could frame the question:-- "At least you will allow me to procure Christian burial for my poor brother?" "It is impossible," said old Bill; "by the rules of this band he must be buried here, with all our rites. You must forget you had a brother; he will sleep as soundly here as in a marble tomb." "By what right do you deny me my proper power? Surely it rests with me to inter my own brother." "I know not by what right saving the right of might. You are not lord here, but I am." "But, my fine fellow, I will soon assert my power; let me once get free from this accursed nest of robbers, and--" "But you will not get free, my Lord, till you have solemnly sworn you will never divulge our hiding place, nor strive to find it out." "Your terms are hard, yet I have no resource but to submit to numbers, though I dare try you all had I fair play one by one." "You will not be put to the test, but, after you have taken the oath, will leave as you came, and need only think of all this as a wild dream. Your brothers need not trouble you; one is dead, and will be buried with due pomp; the other is an outcast even from outcasts, and will know better than to show his face in these quarters." "You said my brother, as I must call Edward L'Estrange, married. Had he any family? For if he had, it would seriously affect my position. As it is, I must take the highest legal advice, and see if this is all reliable evidence." "You need not fear about your title or possessions; no son of Edward L'Estrange's will ever trouble you." "Then he had no family?" said the Earl. "I never said so; but you're free to think what you will." "But tell me, had he a son, or daughter?" "I suppose I may tell what I please, and needn't tell what I don't." "But for God's sake tell me the truth!"