“Hold!” exclaimed Richard, taking the talisman from his breast, and displaying it to her.  “I am armed against thy malice!”

Mother Demdike’s staff fell from her grasp.

“I knew thou wert in some way protected,” she cried furiously.  “And so it is a piece of gold—­with magic characters upon it, eh?” she added, suddenly changing her tone; “Let me look at it.”

“Thou seest it plain enough,” rejoined Richard.  “Now, stand aside and let me pass, for thou perceivest I have power to force an entrance.”

“I see it—­I see it,” replied Mother Demdike, with affected humility.  “I see it is in vain to struggle with thee, or rather with the potent lady who sent thee.  Tarry where thou art, and i will bring Alizon to thee.”

“I almost mistrust thee,” said Richard—­“but be speedy.”

“I will be scarce a moment,” said the witch; “but I must warn thee that she is—­”

“What—­what hast thou done to her, thou wicked hag?” cried Richard, in alarm.

“She is distraught,” said Mother Demdike.

“Distraught!” echoed Richard.

“But thou canst easily cure her,” said the old hag, significantly.

“Ay, so I can,” cried Richard with sudden joy—­“the talisman!  Bring her to me at once.”

Mother Demdike departed, leaving him in a state of indescribable agitation.  The walls of the tower were of immense thickness, and the entrance to the chamber towards which the arched doorway led was covered by a curtain of old arras, behind which the hag had disappeared.  Scarcely had she entered the room when a scream was heard, and Richard heard his own name pronounced by a voice which, in spite of its agonised tones, he at once recognised.  The cries were repeated, and he then heard Mother Demdike call out, “Come hither! come hither!”

Instantly rushing forward and dashing aside the tapestry, he found himself in a mysterious-looking circular chamber, with a massive oak table in the midst of it.  There were many strange objects in the room, but he saw only Alizon, who was struggling with the old witch, and clinging desperately to the table.  He called to her by name as he advanced, but her bewildered looks proved that she did not know him.

“Alizon—­dear Alizon!  I am come to free you,” he exclaimed.

But in place of answering him she uttered a piercing scream.

“The talisman, the talisman?” cried the hag.  “I cannot undo my own work.  Place the chain round her neck, and the gold near her heart, that she may experience its full virtue.”

Richard unsuspectingly complied with the suggestion of the temptress; but the moment he had parted with the piece of gold the figure of Alizon vanished, the chamber was buried in gloom, and, amidst a hubbub of wild laughter, he was dragged by the powerful arm of the witch through the arched doorway, and flung from it to the ground, the shock of the fall producing immediate insensibility.