The moment they crossed the threshold, the door was closed behind
them, the holy sign was signed over the one, and the pentacle drawn
upon the other.
All eyes were turned upon the marquis. He sat motionless.
Motionless, too, as if they had been carved in stone like the
leopard and wyvern over their heads, sat all the lords and ladies,
embodying in themselves the words of the motto there graven, Mulaxe
Vel Timere Sperno. Motionless sat the ladies beneath the dais, but
their faces were troubled and pale, for Amanda was one of them, and
their imaginations were busy with what might now be befalling her.
Dorothy sat in much distress, for although she could lay no evil
intent to her own charge, she was yet the cause of the whole fearful
business. As for Scudamore, though he too was white of blee, he said
to himself, and honestly, that the devil might fly away with her and
welcome for what he cared. One woman in the crowd fainted and fell,
but uttered never a moan. The very children were hushed by the dread
that pervaded the air, and the smell of sulphur, which from a
suspicion grew to a plain presence, increased not a little the
high-wrought awe.
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