I pray God that they may take and hang you." He was white to the lips, and for the first time in his life he knew fear and felt his great limbs trembling under him.
"They may hang me and welcome since you believe this thing.

They could not hurt me more than you are doing, nor by hanging me could they deprive me of aught I value, since your faith in me is a thing to be blown upon by the first rumour of the countryside." He saw the pale lips twist themselves into a dreadful smile.

"There is more than rumour, I think," said she.

"There is more than all your lies will ever serve to cloak." "My lies ?" he cried.

"Rosamund, I swear to you by my honour that I have had no hand in the slaying of Peter.