Here Althea said scornfully, if all tales were true, those names were fit enough; and the stranger replied, that might be, but civil speech was best.

‘People took your kinsman’s preachings very unkindly,’ he continued; ’the more so when the Plague he prophesied of began to show itself; then he was called a sorcerer; and to make a long story short, he was taken up for a pestilent mad Quaker, and clapt into gaol.  I looked on him there; and in gaol he lies still, and may lie for me.’

With that he plucked his cloak away from his face, and, lifting his hat, made us a deep, mocking bow, and we saw it was Ralph Lacy; but such a ghastly change I never saw on any man.  His face was livid, his eyes, deep sunk in his head, glared like coals of fire; and when he began to laugh, his look was altogether devilish.

‘You did not know me, pretty one,’ he said to Althea, ’did you?  When I had seen Golding laid in gaol, I swore none but I should bring you the joyful news; and I can tell you he is worse lodged than even his great prophet, Fox himself, at whose lodging in Lancaster Castle I looked this year with great pleasure—­very smoky, and wet, and foul it is.’

‘Wretch!’ said Althea; ’do you exult over the sufferings of harmless, peaceable men?’

‘Harmless and peaceable, quotha?’ said he; ’it was one of these peaceable creatures flung me into the dust like a worm; but the worm turns, you know.  I took much pains to requite that kindness, and now I cry quits with Master Andrew.’

‘Your wickedness shall return on your own head!  I pray God it may!’ cries Althea, trembling with indignation.

‘Past praying for, madam,’ said the reckless wretch, ’for I have the Plague upon me.  I stayed too long up in town, out of love to your friend and mine.  I shall be a dead corpse to-morrow; and why should not you have the sickness as well as I?’

With that he came towards her, as if to embrace her, when we both shrieked aloud, and turned to fly; and Matthew Standfast, coming suddenly between us with a spade uplifted in his hand, bade the miserable man keep his distance, and asked what he wanted.  On which Lacy said wildly,—­

’A grave, man—­I want nothing but a grave, and any ditch will furnish me that,’ with which he went away.

Matthew, good man, was troubled when we told him Lacy’s words.

‘If the wretched fellow have the sickness indeed,’ he said, ’he might die in a ditch for all his own people care;’ and that same night he went to Lacy Manor, inquiring after its master.

It proved that, on leaving the Grange, the man went straight home, and up-stairs to bed, saying he was weary, and must not be disturbed for an hour or two; and there he now lay dead.  None of the servants had guessed what ailed him, and they were taken with such a fear they would not stay to see him buried, but fled, and laid that charge on poor, good Mr. Stokes, who discharged it with true Christian courage; after which the Manor was shut up for many a day, till the next heir’s covetousness got the better of his fears.  This matter caused great terror; but the Plague spread no further in our parish, and so the people forgot it somewhat after a time.