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boon, for my doom is more than I can bear. A grace, a grace, my lord the
King! in thy royal compassion grant my prayer--give commandment that I be
hanged!"
Tom was amazed. This was not the outcome he had looked for.
"
Odds my life, a strange BOON! Was it not the fate intended thee?"
O good my liege, not so! It is ordered that I be BOILED ALIVE!"
"
The hideous surprise of these words almost made Tom spring from his
chair. As soon as he could recover his wits he cried out--
"Have thy wish, poor soul! an' thou had poisoned a hundred men thou
shouldst not suffer so miserable a death."
The prisoner bowed his face to the ground and burst into passionate
expressions of gratitude--ending with--
"
If ever thou shouldst know misfortune--which God forefend!--may thy
goodness to me this day be remembered and requited!"
Tom turned to the Earl of Hertford, and said--
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