Thevictimofherwitcheriescanonlynamethefatalscroll，thespellinscribedonwhichis，doubtless，thecauseofhissilence。’’
ButRebeccaputanotherinterpretationonthewordsextortedasitwerefromBois-Guilbert，andglancinghereyeupontheslipofparchmentwhichshecontinuedtoholdinherhand，shereadwrittenthereuponintheArabiancharacter，_DemandaChampion！_ThemurmuringcommentarywhichranthroughtheassemblyatthestrangereplyofBois-Guilbert，gaveRebeccaleisuretoexamineandinstantlytodestroythescrollunobserved。Whenthewhisperhadceased，theGrandMasterspoke。
``Rebecca，thoucanstderivenobenefitfromtheevidenceofthisunhappyknight，forwhom，aswewellperceive，theEnemyisyettoopowerful。Hastthouaughtelsetosay?’’
``Thereisyetonechanceoflifelefttome，’’saidRebecca，``evenbyyourownfiercelaws。Lifehasbeenmiserable——miserable，atleast，oflate——butI
willnotcastawaythegiftofGod，whileheaffordsmethemeansofdefendingit。Idenythischarge——Imaintainmyinnocence，andIdeclarethefalsehoodofthisaccusation——Ichallengetheprivilegeoftrialbycombat，andwillappearbymychampion。’’