Every man waited to see if the convicted man would imperil his immortal soul by withholding the truth. The prisoner felt this. He knew what a shock he could give them, and the leading passion being strong upon him, he answered defiantly: “I am innocent!” Trouble had not softened him. On the contrary, he had grown bitter and vindictive as he realized his desperate straits. Yermah picked up an iron-headed arrow, as the guard brought the prisoner forward. Leaning toward him, he drew a circle over Alcamayn’s heart, and then made a square around it with the arrow. This was the death sentence. “May the Father of Justice and Mercy claim the divine within thee, Alcamayn!” The doomed man merely bowed his head. “Let Saturn’s day witness the carrying out of this decree. Away with him!” Yermah felt the words more keenly than the man to whom he had spoken them. Alcamayn’s thin upper lip curled in a sardonic smile, which did not leave his face while the badge of death, a square of sheet iron with a white enamel circle in the center, was being fastened to his breast. The condemned man was kept in solitary confinement. Once the door of his cell closed upon him, he gave way to a frenzy of despair, butting his head against the wall with so much violence that the guards were obliged to tie him down to the floor. Frantic hysteria closed his throat, and threatened strangulation, and when his teeth were pried open, he shut them on his tongue with such force as to nearly sever the end. Shamans worked with him all night, but nothing save physical exhaustion quieted him. Under sentence of death, the miserable man was allowed to receive any consolation possible. There were no restrictions placed upon the visit of friends, the only regulation being a complete and thorough search before and after the visit of both prisoner and caller. Long before light, came Rahula. She was nearly distracted by Alcamayn’s shrieks and groans, but tried to show a brave face. The prisoner was sinking into a drowse, and Rahula did not know whether he recognized her or not. She had brought him some ripe persimmons, and occupied herself trying to make him comfortable. To her surprise he awoke hungry, and did full justice to the appetizing meal prepared for him. There was no objection to her providing the food, but the authorities insisted that she should partake of it freely. So it happened that she furnished and ate all meals with him. Many and long were the confidential talks these two had together, and on more than one occasion Rahula committed to picture-writing things that were told her. Nothing escaped her tightly closed lips, nor did she utter one word of complaint. She was surly and defiant when questioned, but made no resistance at the last moment. On Friday morning, Ildiko, pale and agitated, knocked timidly at the outer gate, and begged to see Alcamayn. He received her quietly, but there was not a shade of pity for her broken fortunes.