I heard a confused shouting, a rush of many feet, but I saw only the working face before me, with its staring eyes, its gaping mouth, with the swollen, quivering tongue within. God! what a lust of blood was on me as I gripped his throat and crushed it! I knew he was fumbling for his dagger--I knew that in an instant a sword-thrust from behind would end it--yet it seemed ages before they were upon me. “God’s blood! Pull him up!” yelled Roquefort, and they jerked me to my feet; but d’Aurilly came with me too, for my fingers were set as death itself would set them. I felt the others working at them, but my teeth were set--this man was mine! They should not take him from me! But Roquefort himself strode up at last, and ran a dagger-point under my fingers, prying them back and cutting them cruelly. Only I did not then feel the hurt--my whole soul was in the gaze I bent upon d’Aurilly as he lay huddled there before me--if only he were dead! if only he were dead! Then might I go in peace to my own death! “Bring Briquet!” called Roquefort, “and quick about it.” In a moment a figure entered from the dark corner. “Here is work for you,” said Roquefort, and pointed to the man on the floor. The surgeon bent over him for a moment, felt his wrist, and looked into his eyes. Then he stood up again. “There is work for the grave-digger, not for me, M. le Duc,” he said. “You twisted the necklet a shade too tightly.” “Necklet!” repeated Roquefort, strangled by rage. “Body of God! It was no necklet--’twas yonder scoundrel’s fingers!” Briquet turned and looked at me with a little air of curiosity. “They must be strong ones,” he observed, simply. But Roquefort’s rage had quite mastered him. “We shall see!” he yelled. “We shall test every muscle of him! Remain here, Briquet--I want the end deferred as long as it may be! To the rack with him!” I strained to hurl from me the scoundrels who held me to right and left, but they were doubtless accustomed to the work, for they threw me by some trick of wrestling, and, seizing me by arm, leg, thigh, and body, bore me into the shadows of the farther corner. If ever man fought to save himself, I fought then, but I had no chance--I saw it in a moment. First one arm, then the other, was strapped down above my head, and in an instant I felt the straps drawn tight about my ankles. I strained at them till I thought my heart would burst, but they held quite firm. Then, with white fear at my throat, I lay still and waited. I could do no more!