Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/193

Rh "As the fatal day approached, Gerard pined away, lost his appetite, cared for nothing that he had attended to before, and neglected his flock. His ways became so alarming that his master and mistress sent him to the vicar. Perhaps someone had cast a spell on him! Shepherds all are somewhat sorcerers and themselves exposed to the evil practices of their fellows. The frank Gerard told the priest quite simply of his deep distress. But at the first word the holy man heard, he cried out: "Get thee gone, accursed man; thy presence is a plague. I know not what hinders me from handing thee over to the drossard of my Lord, the Duke of Brabant, and to have thee burnt in the Market-Place, as is done to others of thy kind. Thou must depart on the spot. Thy crime has cut thee off from the community of the faithful. None can absolve thee except the Pope of Rome. Throw thyself at his feet. As yet thou hast only sinned in thought. Were it otherwise I would call down on thy accursed flesh the flames of the purifying pile!"

"Gerard returned to his master's house, without shame, but more in despair than