left to himself , the full horror of his coming death rushed upon the young man , and he understood that he had thrown away his sole chance of life . well , if he must , he must , he said to himself , and began to run as fast as he could after the old crone , who by this time could scarcely be seen , even in the moonlight . who would have believed a woman past ninety could walk with such speed ? it seemed more like flying ! but at length , breathless and exhausted , he reached her side , and gasped out : ' madam , pardon me for my hasty words just now ; i was wrong , and will thankfully accept the offer you made me . ' ' ah , i thought you would come to your senses , ' answered she , in rather an odd voice . ' we have no time to lose -- follow me at once , ' and they went on silently and swiftly till they stopped at the door of a small house in which the priest lived . before him the old woman bade the prisoner swear that she should be his wife , and this he did in the presence of witnesses . then , begging the priest and the guards to leave them alone for a little , she told the young man what he was to do , when the next morning he was brought before the king and the judges .
why did the old woman take the gentleman to a priest's house ?
she wanted him to promise to be her husband in front of witnesses .
the old woman bade the prisoner swear that she should be his wife and this he did in the presence of witnesses .