e Via Borra, and neither close air, rats, nor foul smells were novelties to him. The food, also, was both bad and insufficient; but James soon obtained permission to send him all the necessaries o

not change. Not being allowed books, he spent his time in prayer and devout medi

h a labyrinth of courtyards, corridors, and stairs, all more or less musty-smelling, into a large, light room in which three persons in military uniform sat at a long table covered with green baize and littered with papers, chatting in a languid

ppointed. The colonel was stiff, cold and formal, but perfectly courteous. The usual questions as to his name, age, nationality, and social position

n, what do you know

eilles and circulates it in Italy, with the object of inducing p

ad this pape

nterested in

lized that you were commi

tain

he copies which were

cannot t

'I cannot tell' here; you are

en, if you obje

to use such expressions," remarked the co

ntimate than is implied by the mere reading of forbidden literature. It will be to your advantage to confess frankly. In

screen myself. What i

reigner, come to be implica

read everything I could get hold

d you to join

wished to

patience was evidently beginning to give out. "No one can join a so

le

the kindness

ask questions

e extent of the calamity, he had already heard enough to put him into a fever of anxiety for the safety of Gemma and his other friends. The studied politeness of the officers, the dull game of fen

olla?" asked the colonel, after a little more band

o one of

im-a tall young fellow, closely shaven.

ents in the universi

ly! Look, this is his handwriting.

and signed: "Giovanni Bolla." Glancing down it Arthur came u

as well; it

have been arrested. The first depositions were of the usual stereotyped character; then followed a short account of Bolla's connection with the society, of the dissemination of prohibit

aken upon himself the solemn duties of an initiator-Bolla, who had converted

has refreshed your memory?"

f that name," he repeated in a dull, ha

t's an error all you young people fall into at first. Come, think! What good is it for you to compromise yourself and spoil your prospects

t into the colonel's voice. Arthur looked up wit

cowardly--You've got some prisoner there you want to compromise, or a trap

ptain Tommasi," he went on, turning to one of them, "ring for the guard, if you please, and have this you

slimy, vermin-covered walls, the floor heaped with accumulations of filth and garbage, the fearful stench of fungi and sewage and rotting wood, was strong enough to have satisfied the offended officer. When he was pushed in and the door locked b

the consciousness of time; and when, on the following morning, a key was turned in the door lock, and the frightened rats scurried past him squeaking, he started u

piece of bread and a mug of water. Arthur made a step forward; he was quite convinced that the man had come to let him out. Before he

ay. The blackness seemed an illimitable thing, with no beginning and no end, and life had, as it were, stopped for him. On the evening of the third day, when the door was opened and the head warder

d stumbling like a drunkard. He resented the warder's attempt to help him up the steep, narrow steps leading to the courtyard; but as he reached th

a cheerful voice; "they most of them g

o full consciousness, and, pushing aside the warder's arm, walked along the corridor and up the stairs almost steadily. They stopped for a moment in front of a door; then it opened, and before h

o talk more comfortably now. Well, and how do you like the dark cel

ng at the throat of this gray-whiskered fop and tear it with his teeth. Probably something of t

n, and drink some wa

e hand and tried to collect his thoughts. The colonel sat watching him keenly, noting with experienced eyes the unste

mount of unpleasantness between us, I may as well begin by saying that I, for my part, have no desire to be anything but indulge

you want

ullen voice, quite differ

and honourable manner, what you know of this society and i

y life. I know nothin

hat subject presently. I think you

ard of such

aordinary. What ab

heard t

in your handwriting, a

lessly at the lette

cognize th

N

at it is in

. I have no rec

ou remembe

he saw that it was one which he had wri

N

on to whom it

the p

y is singul

rom which I have

iversity professor that you are considered b

he police-spy standard; university pro

hunger, foul air, and want of sleep; every bone in his body seemed to ache separately; and the colonel

f the dark cell not to want any more just for the present. I tell you plainly that I shall use strong measures with you if you persist in repulsing gentle ones. Mind, I have proof-positive proof-that some of these

losing command over himself was more appalling to him than any threats. For the first time he began to realize what latent potentiali

r your answer,"

o answer

vely refuse

l you nothi

ll, and keep you there till you change your mind. If ther

lowly; "and whether the English Ambassador will stand your playing tricks of that kin

seless for Arthur to pray in his cell for grace to conquer his evil passions, or to meditate half the night long upon the patience and meekness of Christ. No sooner was he brought again into the long, bare room with its baize-covered table, and confronted with the colonel's waxed moustache, th

or, fancying that someone was hiding in the room to listen if he talked in his sleep. The gendarmes were evidently trying to entrap him into making some admission which might compromise Bolla; and so great was his fear of slipping, by any inadvertency, into a pitfall, that he was really in danger of doing so through sheer nervousness. Bolla's name rang in his ears night and day, interfering even with his devotions, and fo

tried his hardest to wear a severe expression. Gradually the good nature which peeped out of every dimple in his

came into the cell with a face so scowling and

imed; "what on earth is

going up to the pallet, he began pulling

my things? Am I to be m

re to be

to-day? For alt

aught hold of the old man's ar

u? Why don't you answer? Are

s grunt was t

ghing. "It is no use for you to be cross to me, because I'm

ddenly laying down the shirt he wa

of course. Enrico, what

y, poor lad, when a comrade has betrayed him.

eadful!" Arthur's eyes dilated with

asn't i

off your h

for I always thought you were rather a decent young fellow. This way!" Enrico stepped out in

! Why, man, they told me he had betrayed me. Surely B

the foot of the stairs and looked searchingly

rse it'

you see what they told him was that you had denounced him out of-well

s whisper. A sudden, paralyzing fear had come over him. "The

rogation room, and spoke softly. "I believe you; but just tell me one thing.

e Arthur's voice had r

the only young fool that's been taken in that way. There's a tremendous ado just now about a prie

seeing that Arthur stood motionless, staring blankl

eeth amiably. "I have great pleasure in congratulating you. An order for

o know," he said in a dull voice

sed his eyebrow

guess? Thin

lonel put out both hands with

urself, Mr. Burton. Who else coul

wandered slowly to its face; but with no appeal in them, only a dim wonder at this sup

m sure you must be in a hurry to get home; and my time is very much taken up just now with the affairs of that foolish young

hout a word of farewell, descended to the water's edge, where a ferryman was waiting to take him across the moat. As he mo

I'm so glad

hands away

n a voice that did not se

d come out at four. Arthur, why do you look at me like that?

as if he had forgotten her presence. Thoroughly frightened

thu

es. She slipped her arm through his, and th

so upset over this wretched business. I know it's

he asked in the

bout Bolla

ontracted painf

ent on; "but I suppose they've told you. Bolla mus

a th

m arrested. It's perfectly absurd, of course; everyone that knows you sees that; it's only the people who don't know you t

ut it's-i

r face as white as the kerchief at her neck. A great icy wave of silence seemed to have swept

ers-I spoke of that; and I said his nam

er presence and the mortal terror in her

he burst out, moving nearer; bu

t tou

r right hand wit

's sake! It was

t my hand g

ngers away from his, and struck him

hite and desperate face, and the right hand which she had fiercely rubbed on the skirt of her c