“Why did you kill the merchant?”

“For money.”

“You wicked wretches, you have no horror of your sins?”

“And quite right too!”

“They have confessed, and are still stubborn,” said the judge, “lead them to death instantly.” So they were taken out, and the host had to go with them into the circle. When they were taken hold of by the executioner’s men, and were just going to be led up to the scaffold where the headsman was standing with naked sword, a coach drawn by four bloodred chestnut horses came up suddenly, driving so fast that fire flashed from the stones, and someone made signs from the window with a white handkerchief.

Then said the headsman, “It is a pardon coming,” and “Pardon! pardon!” was called from the carriage also.