It had darkened early, and candles were lighted in the room and the blind pulled down. Outside the wind tore at the crazy lattice, or, finding entrance, moaned to and fro in the gusty passages. It threatened to be a night of storm and sweeping rain. And all its wild and dismal surroundings were in keeping with the ghastly figure lying against me. Yet, if there was one in that lonely chamber who shrunk and feared, it was I, not that other so verging on his judgment, with so many and such heavy responsibilities to answer for. God forgive him! “I triumph, Renalt,” he said, feeding the effort of speech with quick, drawn gasps. “This later craven has never been I--I was strong to carry out a purpose, even if it led me to the gallows. Some white-livered devil usurped. Out with the worm at last! I triumph and abide by that I did in the righteousness of wrath. But you--you! Let me say it--quick--I was fast on the coward grip. Oh, a bitter, bitter curse on the treacherous beast who unmanned me! Only to you, Renalt, I pray and ask for pardon. I thought--all the time--I had killed the boy--the braces--I never knew. He--he, that reptile, suggested--perhaps Modred had--found and kept the cameo. I went up blindly--came down blindly--I was drunk--bestial--I could remember nothing.” He moaned and would have clasped his hands to me but for weakness. At the last the paralysis of his limbs had departed and he could move. Disease loosened its clutch, it seemed, in the presence of the death it had invoked. “Renalt--I remembered nothing--but I feared--and, fearing, I saw the odium rest on you and did not speak. It was I gave you to that living death--I who submitted to that fiend’s dictating, because he struck at me through the sordid passion that had mastered my better nature. Renalt----” “Father--hear me! Am I speaking distinctly? Listen. I forgive you all.” It seemed as if a flush passed across his face. He pressed my hand feebly and dropped his head. “Now,” he muttered; “come the crash of doom! To all else I am ready to answer. Call the----” Like a glass breaking, his voice snapped and immediate silence befell. He had not stirred in my arms; but now I felt the whole surface of his body moving, as it were, of itself with a light ruffling shudder. Suddenly he seemed to shrink into himself, rather than away from me, so that he cowered unsupported on the bed. I fell back and looked at his face. His head moved softly from side to side, the eyes following something, unseen of me, hither and thither about the room. In a moment they contracted and fixed themselves horribly on one point, as if the things had come to the bed foot and were softly mounting it. In the same instant on my dull and appalled senses broke the low booming voice of the wheel circling in its black pit far below, and I knew that in the phantom sound no material force spoke, but that the heart of the dying man was transmitting its terrors to me.