Then the darkness grew deeper, and a star shone through my casement, and feet went up and down upon the stairs, but no man came near me.

Below there was some faint cackle of mirth and laughter, and at last the silence fell.
Once more came a swift step on the stairs, as of one stumbling up in haste.

The key rattled in the wards, a yellow light shone in, a man-at- arms entered; he held a torch to my face, looked to my bonds, and then gave me a kick, while one cried from below, "Come on, Dickon, your meat is cooling!" So he turned and went out, the door clanging behind him, and the key rattling in the wards.
In pain and fierce wrath I gnawed my black bread, drank some of the water, and at last I bethought me of that which should have been first in the thoughts of a Christian man, and I prayed.
Remembering the story of Michael Hamilton, which I have already told, and other noble and virtuous miracles of Madame St.Catherine of Fierbois, I commanded me to her, that, by God's grace, she would be pleased to release me from bonds and prison.

And I promised that, if she would so favour me, I would go on pilgrimage to her chapel of Fierbois.

I looked that my chains should now fall from my limbs, but, finding no such matter, and being very weary (for all the last night I had slept none), I fell on slumber and forgot my sorrow.
Belike I had not lain long in that blessed land where trouble seldom comes when I was wakened, as it were, by a tugging at my clothes.