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The earl, with a perfect screech of terror, flung himself flat upon

his face and hands before the queen, with such force, that Sir Norman

expected to see his countenance make a hole in the floor

"O madame! spare me! spare me! spare me! Have mercy on me as you hope

for ar hiid and

pitiless as death

"There is no uilt,

and expect no pardon fro the air with his hands, as if

he could have clawed the heart out of his victiuards, and see that he does not leave it again!"

Squirrasp, in very

uncoed back to his

place, and forcibly held there by two of the guards, while his face grew

so ghastly and convulsed that Sir Norman turned away his head, and could

not bear to look at it

"Confess!" once more yelled the dwarf in a terrible voice, while his

still more terrible eyes flashed sparks of fire--"confess, or by all

that's sacred it shall be tortured out of you Guards, bring me the

thumb-screws, and let us see if they will not exercise the duhastly friend is possessed!"

"No, no, no!" shrieked the earl, while the foam flew from his lips "I