How the forged Confession was produced.

Summoning up all his firmness for the interview with his lady, Lord Roos entered her chamber, attended by Sarah Swarton, and beheld her propped up by pillows, bearing evident marks in her countenance of the severe sufferings she had endured.  She was emaciated in frame, and almost livid in complexion; hollow-cheeked and hollow-eyed; but still with a look of unaltered affection for him.

Having fulfilled her mission, Sarah left them alone together.

He took the thin fingers extended towards him, and pressed them to his lips, but scarcely dared to raise his eyes towards his wife, so much was he shocked by her appearance.  It was with difficulty she gave utterance to the words she addressed to him.

“I thank you for coming to me, my Lord,” she said; “but you will not regret your kindness.  We are quite alone, are we not?  My eyes are so dim that I cannot distinguish any object at the other end of the room—­but I can see you plainly enough, my dear Lord.”

“We are alone, Elizabeth,” replied Lord Roos, in a voice of some emotion, after glancing around.

“Then I may speak freely,” she continued.  “What I predicted has occurred.  You did not do well, my dear Lord, to take that phial from me and place it in other hands.  Nay, start not!  I know I am poisoned:  I have known it from the first.  But I have made no effort to save myself, for I was aware it was your will I should die.”

“O, Elizabeth!” murmured her husband.

“I was aware of it,” she repeated; “and as I have never voluntarily disobeyed you, I would not now thwart your purpose, even though I myself must be the sacrifice.  It was to tell you this that I have sent for you.  It was to forgive—­to bless you.”

And as she spoke she threw her arms round his neck, and he felt his cheek wet with her tears.

“This is more than I can bear,” cried Lord Roos, in a voice suffocated by emotion.  “I thought I had firmness for anything; but it deserts me entirely now.  You are an angel of goodness, Elizabeth; as I am a demon of darkness.  I do not deserve your forgiveness.”

“You will deserve it, if you will comply with the request I am about to make to you,” she rejoined, looking at him beseechingly.

“Whatever it be it shall be granted, if in my power,” he rejoined earnestly.  “I would redeem your life, if I could, at the price of my own.  You have exorcised the evil spirit from me, Elizabeth.”

“Then I shall die happy,” she replied, with a smile of ineffable delight.

“But the request!  What is it you would have me perform?” he asked.

“I would have you spare my mother,” she replied.  “I know she has been dealt with in the same way as myself; but I also know there is yet time to save her.”

“It shall be done,” said Lord Roos, emphatically.  “Where is she?”

“In the adjoining chamber.”