Uncle Abner
"The same generation of men who believed in Wager of Battle, in the Morsel of Execration, in the red-hot plowshares, as a test of the guilt of murder, also believed that if the assassin touched his victim, the body of the murdered man would bleed!
"Flornoy," he said, "if you would have recourse to one of those medieval devices, let it be the last. . . . Go in with me and touch the body of your brother Sheppard, and I give you my word of honor that I will accept the decision of the test."
It was impossible to believe that my uncle Abner trifled, and yet the thing was beyond the soundings of all sense.
Storm and Randolph, and even the girl standing in the door, regarded him in wonder.
Vespatian Flornoy was amazed.
"Damme, man!" he cried, "superstitions have unhinged your mind. Would you believe in a thing like that?"
"I would rather believe it," replied my uncle, "than to believe that in a duel God would direct the assassin's bullet."
Then he added, with weight and decision in his voice:
"If you would be clear of my suspicion, if you would be free to take and enjoy the lands and properties that you inherit, go in before these witnesses and touch the dead body of your brother Sheppard. There is no mark appearing on him. Storm has found no wound to bleed. You are innocent of any
320
