They saw this Exton strike
the King with his pole-axe, from behind, once only, and they knew no
more was needed.
"By God!" said one of them in the ensuing stillness, and it was he who
bled the most, "that was a felon's blow."
But the dying man who lay before them made as though to smile. "I
charge you all to witness," he faintly said, "how willingly I render
to Caesar's daughter that which was ever hers."
Then Exton fretted, as if with a little trace of shame: "Who would
have thought the rascal had remembered that first wife of his so long?
Caesar's daughter, saith he! and dares in extremis to pervert Holy
Scripture like any Wycliffite! Well, he is as dead as that first
Caesar now, and our gracious King, I think, will sleep the better for
it. And yet--God only knows! for they are an odd race, even as he
said--these men that have old Manuel's blood in them."
THE END OF THE SEVENTH NOVEL
VIII
THE STORY OF THE SCABBARD
"Ainsi il avait trouve sa mie
Si belle qu'on put souhaiter.
N'avoit cure d'ailleurs plaider,
Fors qu'avec lui manoir et estre.
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