Bois-GuilbertturnedhisheadtowardstheGrandMasterwhenthusaddressed，andremainedsilent。
``Heispossessedbyadumbdevil，’’saidtheGrandMaster。``Avoidthee，Sathanus！——Speak，BriandeBois-Guilbert，Iconjurethee，bythissymbolofourHolyOrder。’’
Bois-Guilbertmadeanefforttosuppresshisrisingscornandindignation，theexpressionofwhich，hewaswellaware，wouldhavelittleavailedhim。
``BriandeBois-Guilbert，’’heanswered，``repliesnot，mostReverendFather，tosuchwildandvaguecharges。Ifhishonourbeimpeached，hewilldefenditwithhisbody，andwiththatswordwhichhasoftenfoughtforChristendom。’’
``Weforgivethee，BrotherBrian，’’saidtheGrandMaster；``thoughthatthouhastboastedthywarlikeachievementsbeforeus，isaglorifyingofthineowndeeds，andcomethoftheEnemy，whotemptethustoexaltourownworship。Butthouhastourpardon，judgingthouspeakestlessofthineownsuggestionthanfromtheimpulseofhimwhombyHeaven’sleave，wewillquellanddriveforthfromourassembly。’’AglanceofdisdainflashedfromthedarkfierceeyesofBois-Guilbert，buthemadenoreply——``Andnow，’’pursuedtheGrandMaster，``sinceourBrotherofGoodalricke’squestionhasbeenthusimperfectlyanswered，pursueweourquest，brethren，andwithourpatron’sassistance，wewillsearchtothebottomthismysteryofiniquity——LetthosewhohaveaughttowitnessofthelifeandconversationofthisJewishwoman，standforthbeforeus。’’Therewasabustleinthelowerpartofthehall，andwhentheGrandMasterenquiredthereason，itwasreplied，therewasinthecrowdabedriddenman，whomtheprisonerhadrestoredtotheperfectuseofhislimbs，byamiraculousbalsam。
Thepoorpeasant，aSaxonbybirth，wasdraggedforwardtothebar，terrifiedatthepenalconsequenceswhichhemighthaveincurredbytheguiltofhavingbeencuredofthepalsybyaJewishdamsel。Perfectlycuredbecertainlywasnot，forhesupportedhimselfforwardoncrutchestogiveevidence。Mostunwillingwashistestimony，andgivenwithmanytears；butheadmittedthattwoyearssince，whenresidingatYork，hewassuddenlyafflictedwithasoredisease，whilelabouringforIsaactherichJew，inhisvocationofajoiner；thathehadbeenunabletostirfromhisbeduntiltheremediesappliedbyRebecca’sdirections，andespeciallyawarmingandspicy-smellingbalsam，hadinsomedegreerestoredhimtotheuseofhislimbs。
Moreover，hesaid，shehadgivenhimapotofthatpreciousointment，andfurnishedhimwithapieceofmoneywithal，toreturntothehouseofhisfather，neartoTemplestowe。``AndmayitpleaseyourgraciousReverence，’’saidtheman，``Icannotthinkthedamselmeantharmbyme，thoughshehaththeillhaptobeaJewess；forevenwhenIusedherremedy，IsaidthePaterandtheCreed，anditneveroperatedawhitlesskindly——’’
``Peace，slave，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``andbegone！Itwellsuitsbrutesliketheetobetamperingandtrinketingwithhellishcures，andtobegivingyourlabourtothesonsofmischief。I
tellthee，thefiendcanimposediseasesfortheverypurposeofremovingthem，inordertobringintocreditsomediabolicalfashionofcure。Hastthouthatunguentofwhichthouspeakest?’’
Thepeasant，fumblinginhisbosomwithatremblinghand，producedasmallbox，bearingsomeHebrewcharactersonthelid，whichwas，withmostoftheaudience，asureproofthatthedevilhadstoodapothecary。Beaumanoir，aftercrossinghimself，tooktheboxintohishand，and，learnedinmostoftheEasterntongues，readwitheasethemottoonthelid，——_TheLionofthetribeofJudahhathconquered_。``StrangepowersofSathanas。’’
saidhe，``whichcanconvertScriptureintoblasphemy，minglingpoisonwithournecessaryfood！——Istherenoleechherewhocantellustheingredientsofthismysticunguent?’’
Twomediciners，astheycalledthemselves，theoneamonk，theotherabarber，appeared，andavouchedtheyknewnothingofthematerials，exceptingthattheysavouredofmyrrhandcamphire，whichtheytooktobeOrientalherbs。Butwiththetrueprofessionalhatredtoasuccessfulpractitioneroftheirart，theyinsinuatedthat，sincethemedicinewasbeyondtheirownknowledge，itmustnecessarilyhavebeencompoundedfromanunlawfulandmagicalpharmacopeia；sincetheythemselves，thoughnoconjurors，fullyunderstoodeverybranchoftheirart，sofarasitmightbeexercisedwiththegoodfaithofaChristian。Whenthismedicalresearchwasended，theSaxonpeasantdesiredhumblytohavebackthemedicinewhichhehadfoundsosalutary；buttheGrandMasterfrownedseverelyattherequest。``Whatisthyname，fellow?’’
saidhetothecripple。
``Higg，thesonofSnell，’’answeredthepeasant。
``ThenHigg，sonofSnell，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``Itelltheeitisbettertobebedridden，thantoacceptthebenefitofunbelievers’medicinethatthoumayestariseandwalk；bettertodespoilinfidelsoftheirtreasurebythestronghand，thantoacceptofthembenevolentgifts，ordothemserviceforwages。Gothou，anddoasIhavesaid。’’
``Alack，’’saidthepeasant，``anitshallnotdispleaseyourReverence，thelessoncomestoolateforme，forIambutamaimedman；butIwilltellmytwobrethren，whoservetherichRabbiNathanBenSamuel，thatyourmastershipsaysitismorelawfultorobhimthantorenderhimfaithfulservice。’’
``Outwiththepratingvillain！’’saidBeaumanoir，whowasnotpreparedtorefutethispracticalapplicationofhisgeneralmaxim。
Higg，thesonofSnell，withdrewintothecrowd，but，interestedinthefateofhisbenefactress，lingereduntilheshouldlearnherdoom，evenattheriskofagainencounteringthefrownofthatseverejudge，theterrorofwhichwitheredhisveryheartwithinhim。
Atthisperiodofthetrial，theGrandMastercommandedRebeccatounveilherself。Openingherlipsforthefirsttime，sherepliedpatiently，butwithdignity，——``Thatitwasnotthewontofthedaughtersofherpeopletouncovertheirfaceswhenaloneinanassemblyofstrangers。’’Thesweettones。
ofhervoice，andthesoftnessofherreply，impressedontheaudienceasentimentofpityandsympathy。
ButBeaumanoir，inwhosemindthesuppressionofeachfeelingofhumanitywhichcouldinterferewithhisimaginedduty，wasavirtueofitself，repeatedhiscommandsthathisvictimshouldbeunveiled。Theguardswereabouttoremoveherveilaccordingly，whenshestoodupbeforetheGrandMasterandsaid，``Nay，butfortheloveofyourowndaughters——Alas，’’shesaid，recollectingherself，``yehavenodaughters！——yetfortheremembranceofyourmothers——fortheloveofyoursisters，andoffemaledecency，letmenotbethushandledinyourpresence；itsuitsnotamaidentobedisrobedbysuchrudegrooms。Iwillobeyyou，’’
sheadded，withanexpressionofpatientsorrowinhervoice，whichhadalmostmeltedtheheartofBeaumanoirhimself；``yeareeldersamongyourpeople，andatyourcommandIwillshowthefeaturesofanill-fatedmaiden。’’
Shewithdrewherveil，andlookedonthemwithacountenanceinwhichbashfulnesscontendedwithdignity。Herexceedingbeautyexcitedamurmurofsurprise，andtheyoungerknightstoldeachotherwiththeireyes，insilentcorrespondence，thatBrian’sbestapologywasinthepowerofherrealcharms，ratherthanofherimaginarywitchcraft。ButHigg，thesonofSnell，feltmostdeeplytheeffectproducedbythesightofthecountenanceofhisbenefactress。
``Letmegoforth，’’hesaidtothewardersatthedoorofthehall，——``letmegoforth！——Tolookatheragainwillkillme，forIhavehadashareinmurderingher。’’
``Peace，poorman，’’saidRebecca，whensheheardhisexclamation；``thouhastdonemenoharmbyspeakingthetruth——thoucanstnotaidmebythycomplaintsorlamentations。Peace，Ipraythee——gohomeandsavethyself。’’
Higgwasabouttobethrustoutbythecompassionofthewarders，whowereapprehensivelesthisclamorousgriefshoulddrawuponthemreprehension，anduponhimselfpunishment。Buthepromisedtobesilent，andwaspermittedtoremain。
Thetwomen-at-arms，withwhomAlbertMalvoisinhadnotfailedtocommunicateupontheimportoftheirtestimony，werenowcalledforward。Thoughbothwerehardenedandinflexiblevillains，thesightofthecaptivemaiden，aswellasherexcellingbeauty，atfirstappearedtostaggerthem；butanexpressiveglancefromthePreceptorofTemplestowerestoredthemtotheirdoggedcomposure；
andtheydelivered，withaprecisionwhichwouldhaveseemedsuspicioustomoreimpartialjudges，circumstanceseitheraltogetherfictitiousortrivial，andnaturalinthemselves，butrenderedpregnantwithsuspicionbytheexaggeratedmannerinwhichtheyweretold，andthesinistercommentarywhichthewitnessesaddedtothefacts。Thecircumstancesoftheirevidencewouldhavebeen，inmoderndays，dividedintotwoclasses——thosewhichwereimmaterial，andthosewhichwereactuallyandphysicallyimpossible。Butbothwere，inthoseignorantandsuperstitionstimes，easilycreditedasproofsofguilt——Thefirstclasssetforth，thatRebeccawasheardtomuttertoherselfinanunknowntongue——thatthesongsshesungbyfitswereofastrangelysweetsound，whichmadetheearsofthehearertingle，andhisheartthrob——thatshespokeattimestoherself，andseemedtolookupwardforareply——thathergarmentswereofastrangeandmysticform，unlikethoseofwomenofgoodrepute——thatshehadringsimpressedwithcabalisticaldevices，andthatstrangecharacterswerebroideredonherveil。
Allthesecircumstances，sonaturalandsotrivial，weregravelylistenedtoasproofs，or，atleast，asaffordingstrongsuspicionsthatRebeccahadunlawfulcorrespondencewithmysticalpowers。
Buttherewaslessequivocaltestimony，whichthecredulityoftheassembly，orofthegreaterpart，greedilyswallowed，howeverincredible。Oneofthesoldiershadseenherworkacureuponawoundedman，broughtwiththemtothecastleofTorquilstone。
Shedid，hesaid，makecertainsignsuponthewound，andrepeatedcertainmysteriouswords，whichheblessedGodheunderstoodnot，whentheironheadofasquarecross-bowboltdisengageditselffromthewound，thebleedingwasstanched，thewoundwasclosed，andthedyingmanwas，withinaquarterofanhour，walkingupontheramparts，andassistingthewitnessinmanagingamangonel，ormachineforhurlingstones。Thislegendwasprobablyfoundeduponthefact，thatRebeccahadattendedonthewoundedIvanhoewheninthecastleofTorquilstone。
Butitwasthemoredifficulttodisputetheaccuracyofthewitness，as，inordertoproducerealevidenceinsupportofhisverbaltestimony，hedrewfromhispouchtheverybolt-head，which，accordingtohisstory，hadbeenmiraculouslyextractedfromthewound；andastheironweighedafullounce，itcompletelyconfirmedthetale，howevermarvellous。
HiscomradehadbeenawitnessfromaneighbouringbattlementofthescenebetwixtRebeccaandBois-Guilbert，whenshewasuponthepointofprecipitatingherselffromthetopofthetower。
Nottobebehindhiscompanion，thisfellowstated，thathehadseenRebeccaperchherselfupontheparapetoftheturret，andtheretaketheformofamilk-whiteswan，underwhichappearancesheflittedthreetimesroundthecastleofTorquilstone；
thenagainsettleontheturret，andoncemoreassumethefemaleform。
Lessthanonehalfofthisweightyevidencewouldhavebeensufficienttoconvictanyoldwoman，poorandugly，eventhoughshehadnotbeenaJewess。Unitedwiththatfatalcircumstance，thebodyofproofwastooweightyforRebecca’syouth，thoughcombinedwiththemostexquisitebeauty。
TheGrandMasterhadcollectedthesuffrages，andnowinasolemntonedemandedofRebeccawhatshehadtosayagainstthesentenceofcondemnation，whichhewasabouttopronounce。
``Toinvokeyourpity，’’saidthelovelyJewess，withavoicesomewhattremulouswithemotion，``would，Iamaware，beasuselessasIshouldholditmean。Tostatethattorelievethesickandwoundedofanotherreligion，cannotbedispleasingtotheacknowledgedFounderofbothourfaiths，werealsounavailing；topleadthatmanythingswhichthesemenwhommayHeavenpardon！
havespokenagainstmeareimpossible，wouldavailmebutlittle，sinceyoubelieveintheirpossibility；
andstilllesswoulditadvantagemetoexplain，thatthepeculiaritiesofmydress，language，andmanners，arethoseofmypeople——Ihadwellnighsaidofmycountry，butalas！wehavenocountry。NorwillIevenvindicatemyselfattheexpenseofmyoppressor，whostandstherelisteningtothefictionsandsurmiseswhichseemtoconvertthetyrantintothevictim——Godbejudgebetweenhimandme！butratherwouldIsubmittotensuchdeathsasyourpleasuremaydenounceagainstme，thanlistentothesuitwhichthatmanofBelialhasurgeduponme——friendless，defenceless，andhisprisoner。
Butheisofyourownfaith，andhislightestaffirmancewouldweighdownthemostsolemnprotestationsofthedistressedJewess。Iwillnotthereforereturntohimselfthechargebroughtagainstme——buttohimself——Yes，BriandeBois-Guilbert，tothyselfIappeal，whethertheseaccusationsarenotfalse?asmonstrousandcalumniousastheyaredeadly?’’
Therewasapause；alleyesturnedtoBraindeBois-Guilbert。Hewassilent。
``Speak，’’shesaid，``ifthouartaman——ifthouartaChristian，speak！——Iconjurethee，bythehabitwhichthoudostwear，bythenamethoudostinherit——bytheknighthoodthoudostvaunt——bythehonourofthymother——bythetombandthebonesofthyfather——Iconjuretheetosay，arethesethingstrue?’’
``Answerher，brother，’’saidtheGrandMaster，``iftheEnemywithwhomthoudostwrestlewillgivetheepower。’’
Infact，Bois-Guilbertseemedagitatedbycontendingpassions，whichalmostconvulsedhisfeatures，anditwaswithaconstrainedvoicethatatlasthereplied，lookingtoRebecca，——``Thescroll！
thescroll！’’
``Ay，’’saidBeaumanoir，``thisisindeedtestimony！