"If the promise fail, blame thy dastardly fears, and not my power. Thou
shalt see the promised land thou shalt not inherit. Thy son shall
receive the blessing."
The dean looked for a moment as though he could have fawned and
supplicated for a reversion of the decree; but pride or anger had the
mastery.
"And so," cried he, "thou findest thy predictions run counter to thy
schemes, perdie; for thou dost mock me in them with a double sense."
"How, false one? Have I not wrought for thee? Hath not he, whose corpse
now resteth in hope, overwhelmed thee with his favours through my
counsel and contrivance? I owed thee a service, for thou wast my stay
and sustenance when driven hither an outcast from the haunts of men. But
thoughtest thou that I should pander to thy lust, and hew out a pathway
to thy desire?"
"To me this!" said the covetous intruder, his voice quivering with rage.
"Yes, to thee, Robert de Whalley," replied the hermit: "because thou
hast not leaped the last height of thine ambition, forsooth--because
thou art not lord of these wide domains, through my interest and holy
communion with the departed--and because I have not basely sold myself
to thee, thou art offended.
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