Hours passed while Frederick-Christian suffered the tortures of hunger and thirst. Cold and tired out, he finally lay down on the ground, writhing with violent pains in his stomach. At length he could stand it no longer, and dragging himself to the box, he seized the ham and began to devour it ravenously. This brought on a maddening thirst, which he tried to quench by long draughts of the wine. Then he became very drunk and so, laughing and crying, he drank until he lost consciousness once more. * * * * * "Sire! Can you hear me?" A sharp voice broke the silence. It seemed to come from a distance. "Sire, can you hear me?... Answer!" Frederick-Christian sprang up. "Who is speaking? Who are you? Help! Help!" The voice, mocking and authoritative, answered: "Now, then, keep quiet. I am not within reach, so it is useless to cry for help." "Scoundrel!" cried the King. "There's no use in behaving like a child ... you won't gain anything by it." "Pity, pity!... I will make you rich ... I will give you anything you ask, only set me at liberty ... take me out of this prison or I shall become mad." "Have you done with your lamentations?" "I'll be revenged!" "I am beyond your vengeance, Sire, and you would do well to talk quietly with me." "You killed my mistress, Susy d'Orsel!" "Yes, I killed her." "You are Fandor--Jerome Fandor!" "What you say is absurd." "And my Kingdom? The Queen, my wife? What is happening?" "I didn't come here to discuss politics with you. You must be reasonable." "What do you want with me? Why was I brought here?" "Ah, now we can discuss the matter together. You ask me what I want. First of all, let me reassure you. I do not intend to kill you. Your death would not be of the slightest use to me. Otherwise I shouldn't hesitate an instant." "I'm not afraid of death." "I know that, Sire ... you are brave.... I want your diamond." "My diamond!" "Exactly. I am quite aware, Frederick-Christian, that your personal fortune is represented by a diamond of marvelous purity and size. I also know that it is hidden in your Palace. You, alone, know where. I want you to disclose its hiding place to me so that I may go and get it." "Never! I'm not a coward!" "You are stupid, Sire. I repeat, once in possession of the diamond, I will set you at liberty." "Lies!" "Sire, consider a moment. It would be practically impossible for me to realize anything like the value of the diamond. To sell it I should be obliged to break it into small pieces, and in that case it would scarcely fetch more than twenty millions. Now, I have a better suggestion to offer." "What is it?"