Leila or, the Siege of Granada, Book II. by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 60 of 63 (95%)
page 60 of 63 (95%)
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"I do answer. She was brought up no renegade to her father's faith."
"Write down the confession. Prisoner," resumed the Dominican, after a pause, "but few more questions remain; answer them truly, and thy life is saved. In thy conspiracy to raise thy brotherhood of Andalusia to power and influence--or, as thou didst craftily term it, to equal laws with the followers of our blessed Lord; in thy conspiracy (by what dark arts I seek not now to know _protege nos, beate Domine_!) to entangle in wanton affections to thy daughter the heart of the Infant of Spain-silence, I say--be still! in this conspiracy, thou wert aided, abetted, or instigated by certain Jews of Andalusia--" "Hold, priest!" cried Almamen, impetuously, "thou didst name my child. Do I hear aright? Placed under the sacred charge of a king, and a belted knight, has she--oh! answer me, I implore thee--been insulted by the licentious addresses of one of that king's own lineage? Answer! I am a Jew--but I am a father and a man." "This pretended passion deceives us not," said the Dominican, who, himself cut off from the ties of life, knew nothing of their power. "Reply to the question put to thee: name thy accomplices." "I have told thee all. Thou hast refused to answer one. I scorn and defy thee: my lips are closed." The Grand Inquisitor glanced to his brethren, and raised his hand. His assistants whispered each other; one of them rose, and disappeared behind the canvas at the back of the tent. Presently the hangings were withdrawn; and the prisoner beheld an, interior chamber, hung with various instruments the nature of which was betrayed by their very shape; |
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