Haggard, H. Rider (Henry Rider), 1856-1925 / 2008-06-10 00:00:00


"Here," she said, "I found this. It is the Bible that Sir James begged
might be sent to his son, just before they shot him, you remember,"
and she handed him a small brown book. He took it and examined it
carefully. It was bound in leather, and on the cover was written in
large letters, "Sir James de la Molle. Honham Castle, 1611." Nor was
this all. The first sheets of the Bible, which was one of the earliest
copies of the authorised version, were torn out, and the top corner
was also gone, having to all appearance been shot off by a bullet, a
presumption that a dark stain of blood upon the cover and edges
brought near to certainty.
"Poor gentleman," said Harold, "he must have had it in his pocket when
he was shot. Where did you find it?"
"Yes, I suppose so," said Ida, "in fact I have no doubt of it. I found
it when I was a child in an ancient oak chest in the basement of the
western tower, quite hidden up in dusty rubbish and bits of old iron.
But look at the end and you will see what he wrote in it to his son,
Edward. Here, I will show you," and leaning over him she turned to the
last page of the book. Between the bottom of the page and the
conclusion of the final chapter of Revelations there had been a small
blank space now densely covered with crabbed writing in faded ink,
which she read aloud.
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