A prey to violent terror, the old usurer instantly adopted the supplicatory posture recommended by the Prince; but Sir Giles refused compliance.

“Having committed no offence, I sue for no pardon,” he said, with his wonted audacity.  “I repel the charge with indignation; and, in my turn, accuse Clement Lanyere and Luke Hatton of a conspiracy against me.  This damsel is but their tool, as I will show, if your Highness will deign to give ear to me.”

“It were mere waste of time to listen to idle fabrications,” replied Charles.  “The evidence against you is complete, and my opinion upon it is formed.  But what saith the maiden herself?  Is she willing that any grace be shown her persecutors?”

“The redress I have already obtained at the hands of your Highness is amply sufficient,” replied Aveline.  “Great as has been the misery these two persons have occasioned me, and grievously as they have sought to injure me, I seek no further satisfaction; but would implore your Highness to pardon them.  Their own thoughts will be punishment enough.”

“Amply sufficient—­for nothing can be more bitter,” cried the old usurer, while a scornful smile curled Sir Giles’s lips.

“Spoken as I expected you would speak, fair maiden,” said Charles; “and, were there nothing else against them, I might listen to your kindly intercessions.  But other and darker disclosures have to be made; and when you have heard all, even your compassionate breast may be steeled against them.  Retire for a moment; but do not leave the room.  Your presence may yet be needed.”

And bowing graciously to Aveline, she withdrew under the care of the gentleman who had brought her forward, but still remained a spectatress of the scene.

“And now to proceed with the investigation,” pursued Charles.  “What have you to allege against the two persons before you?” he added, to Clement Lanyere.

“Were I to relate all their enormities, most gracious Prince,” replied the promoter, “the recital would be too painful for your hearing, and that of this noble assemblage.  But I will, in a word, declare that there is no kind of outrage, oppression, and extortion of which they have not been guilty.  Their insatiable greediness has been fed by constant plunder; and, alike cruel and rapacious, nothing but the ruin and absolute destruction of their victims would content them.  Merciless as creditors, they have ground their unfortunate debtors to the dust.  The tears of the widow they have robbed of her husband and her means of existence—­the despair of the orphan, whose fair prospects they have blighted—­have failed to move them.  Utterly unscrupulous as to the means of obtaining possession of property, they have forged wills, deeds, and other documents.  Their ingenuity has been taxed to devise new means of unjust gain; and, imposing upon the King’s Majesty by false representations, they have succeeded in obtaining his letters patent for certain monopolies, which they have so shamefully abused, as to bring his sovereign authority into discredit.”