“Therefore,” he continued, “unless you can satisfy me of two or three points, I shall deliver you to Sweyn.”

Alfgar thought at first that this was simply an idle threat, since it would be almost impossible to convey him secretly through the country to the Isle of Wight.  Edric understood his thoughts.

“You forget,” he said, “that Sweyn will shortly be here; your friend, the Etheling, may have told you that, if you did not know it before; he is telling it to everybody, but no one believes him.  Only think, no one will believe that Sweyn could be so audacious, and they think that, listening behind walls and in cupboards, the Etheling, perhaps, drank too much of what he found there—­and that was all.  Well, when Sweyn comes, he may, if he will, make a public example to all apostates in your honoured person; meanwhile Edmund thinks you have deserted him.”

No torturer ever seemed to take a keener pleasure in the throes of his victim, than Edric in the mental agony he kindled in the breast of his unhappy prisoner.

“But I said I might release you, or at least mitigate your fate, on one condition, that you answer me a plain question directly and plainly.  Under what name does Edmund travel, and what disguise, and does he purpose to trust himself in the Danish camp again?  Where is he at present residing? he has disappeared from the palace.”

“Monster!” said Alfgar, “you tempt like Satan.  Away, and leave me to my fate.”

“You will think better of it by and by when confinement upon bread and water has tamed you.  I will come once more, but it will be the last time; and, mark you, should your people be defeated—­the Danes I mean—­still your escape would not necessarily follow; the house might take fire, it is of timber, and would soon burn down; a sad misfortune it would be.

“Good morning.  I am going to mass with the king; shall I say a Pater and an Ave for you, since you are prevented from being there.  The saints have you in their holy keeping!”

His manner throughout had been like that of a cat playing with a mouse, and there was quite a gratified smile upon his lips as he went.

Strange to say, Alfgar felt less miserable after he was gone.  The wickedness of Edric seemed so great, his hypocrisy so unblushing, that in his simple faith Alfgar could not believe that he would be allowed to succeed.  Many a holy text in the Psalms came to his mind, and seemed to assure him of Divine protection.

“I myself have seen the ungodly in great power; and flourishing like a green bay tree.

“I went by, and, lo! he was gone; I sought him, but his place could nowhere be found.

“Seek innocency, and take heed to the thing that is right:  for that shall bring a man peace at the last.”

“So, come what will,” said he, “I will trust in Him and never will I save my life by uttering one word which might betray the innocent.”