"Neatly done, and I do claim credit for myself," said Bartolommeo, as he thrust the iron back into the brazier. "Take him forth, guards. An he doth not confess whence he had the poison found in his possession, he is to have his right hand lopped off this day week." The pitiful figure was carried out, and Mocenigo addressed Hugh again. "You did not enjoy that sight, Messer Hugh?" Hugh took a step nearer to the table, so that his face was clear in every feature to his interrogators. "Mark me well in what I say," he answered evenly. "An you venture to torment me in any way, by fire, by the rack, by bone-crushing, what you will, I will make an end of myself--I will strangle myself, if I may. If I may not, I will starve myself to death. And what I know--whether it is what you seek or otherwise--will die with me." "Well spoken, well spoken," commented Bartolommeo impersonally. "Said I not so, Magnificence?" "'Tis the answer the other made," agreed Mocenigo in a puzzled tone. "Strange, is it not? The same answer from both. What doth it mean?" "Nay, then, they must have had intercourse," rejoined Comnenus, fretfully. "'Tis manifest. This is not accident. 'Tis the same attitude--identical." "In that case, we may move slowly," said Mocenigo. "Ha, by the Panagia, I have an idea! How if----" He inclined his head to the Cæsar's ear, and murmured rapidly in Greek. Whilst they talked, Bartolommeo leaned against the wall close by the brazier and whistled to himself. "Ay, 'tis as good a plan as any," approved Comnenus at last. "There is much to be said for it. Let one work upon the other. 'Twill be an incentive to each. So be it, then." Mocenigo turned to Hugh. "For the time-being, Messer Hugh, you shall taste the pleasures of a dungeon under Blachernae. You have seen the fate we may give you, and doubt not we shall give it to you, an we see fit, despite your threats. But in the meantime we will let you think of it, turn it over in your mind, dwell upon the life of a blind man and the sensations of being chopped slowly apart, limb by limb. Bartolommeo!" "Magnificence!" "Take the Englishman to the Tower of Anemas. Put him in with the old one." "With the old one?" Bartolommeo threw back his head and gave vent to another roar of his bull-like laughter. "Ha, ha, ha! By St. Bacchus, but that is a dainty play! No one hath the wit for devising pleasantries like Messer Mocenigo. May the devil smile upon me, but I would have looked forward to this, had I but known! Come, Messer Hugh, come with me! I will guide you. An you but knew, mayhap you would think fit to bestow a small dole upon one who hath guided you to your journey's end--as, belike, he may guide you yet to the end of a greater journey! A great guide is old Bartolommeo!"