"Was Eustace acquainted with Tetrik?" "Eustace never as much as spoke to him--" "Are you certain?" "Eustace told me so--he ever felt--without knowing why--an aversion for the governor--I was not surprised at that. Eustace loved only me--" "And he killed you! Speak, and I swear to you, by Hesus, that I shall keep the secret--otherwise, not!" "I shall speak--but your silence on the matter will not suffice me. A score of times I proposed to my friend Eustace to share my purse--he met my tender with insults. Oh! his is not a venal soul--not his--he has no money--he must surely be without any resources whatever--how will he be able to flee?" "I shall help him to flee--I shall furnish him the money that he may need--I shall be only too glad to rid the camp of such a monster with all possible speed!" "A monster!" murmured Marion reproachfully. "You are very severe towards Eustace." "How did he manage to inflict a mortal wound upon you, and what was his reason? Answer my question." "Since I was acclaimed Chief of Gaul and general, my friend Eustace became more peevish than ever before, and more sullen--than he usually was--he feared, poor soul, that my elevation would make me proud--" Marion choked in his speech. Throwing his arms about at random, he called out: "Schanvoch, where are you?" "Here I am, close to you--" "I see you no longer," he said in a sinking voice. "Lean my back against a tree--I am--smothering--" With no little difficulty I did what Marion desired; his Herculean body was heavy. Finally, however, I succeeded in drawing him up with his back against the nearest tree. Reclined against it, Marion continued in a voice that steadily grew feebler: