A third time he gave the
sign, and once more, but now close over their heads, the thunder
broke, and in the midst of its echoes, high in the oak roof appeared
a little cloud of smoke. It seemed to catch the eye of lord Herbert.
He made one step forward, and held out his hand towards it, with the
gesture of a falconer presenting his wrist to a bird.
'Ha! art thou here?' he said.
And to the eyes of all, a creature like a bat was plainly visible,
perched upon his forefinger, and waving up and down its filmy wings.
He looked at it for a moment, bent his head to it, seemed to
whisper, and then addressed it aloud.
'Go,' he said, 'alight upon the head of him or of her who hath
wrought the evil thou knowest in this house. For it was of thine own
kind, and would have smirched a fair brow.'
As he spoke he cast the creature aloft. A smothered cry came from
some of the women, and Tom Fool gave a great sob and held his breath
tight. Once round the wide space the bat flew, midway between floor
and roof, and returning perched again upon lord Herbert's hand.
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