Nizza hastily explained the motive of Judith’s attack upon her life.  The plague-nurse endeavoured to defend herself, and, in her turn, charged her accuser with a like attempt.  But Solomon Eagle interrupted her.

“Be silent, false woman!” he cried, “and think not to delude me with these idle fabrications.  I fully believe that you would have taken the life of this poor youth, and, did I not regard you as one of the necessary agents of Heaven’s vengeance, I would instantly deliver you up to justice.  But the measure of your iniquities is not yet filled up.  Your former crimes are not unknown to me.  Neither is the last dark deed, which you imagined concealed from every human eye, hidden from me.”

“I know not what you mean,” returned Judith, trembling, in spite of herself.

“I will tell you, then,” rejoined Solomon Eagle, catching her hand, and dragging her into the furthest corner of the vault.  “Give ear to me,” he continued, in a low voice, “and doubt, if you can, that I have witnessed what I relate.  I saw you enter a small chamber behind the vestry, in which Thomas Quatremain, who once filled the place of minor canon in this cathedral, was laid.  No one was there beside yourself and the dying man.  Your first business was to search his vestments, and take away his keys.”

“Ha!” exclaimed Judith, starting.

“While securing his keys,” pursued Solomon Eagle, “the owner awakened, and uttered a low, but angry remonstrance.  Better he had been silent.  Dipping a napkin in an ewer of water that stood beside him, you held the wet cloth over his face, and did not remove it till life was extinct.  All this I saw.”

“But you will not reveal it,” said Judith, tremblingly.

“I will not,” replied Solomon Eagle, “for the reasons I have just stated; namely, that I look upon you as one of the scourges appointed by Heaven.”

“And so I am,” rejoined Judith, with impious exultation; “it is my mission to destroy and pillage, and I will fulfil it.”

“Take heed you do not exceed it,” replied Solomon Eagle.  “Lift a finger against either of these young persons, and I will reveal all.  Yes,” he continued, menacingly, “I will disclose such dreadful things against you, that you will assuredly be adjudged to a gibbet higher than the highest tower of this proud fane.”

“I defy you, wretch!” retorted Judith.  “You can prove nothing against me.”

“Defy me?—­ha!” cried Solomon Eagle, with a terrible laugh.  “First,” he added, dashing her backwards against the wall—­“first, to prove my power.  Next,” he continued, drawing from her pockets a bunch of keys, “to show that I speak the truth.  These were taken from the vest of the murdered man.  No one, as yet, but ourselves, knows that he is dead.”

“And who shall say which of the two is the murderer?” cried Judith.  “Villain!  I charge you with the deed.”