ray face that never
smiles, hair like a mare's tail, a body gaunt and spare as a growing
boy's--I cannot say I admire thy taste. Thou, who art so keen a judge of
women's beauty, who can pick and choose from among the fairest--what
hath bewitched thee, man?"

"You do not know her!" Hito said sulkily, forced into a defence of his
choice. "A creature all fire and ice--well, I know she hath no beauty,
but--I'd not have thee believe it is because I am no judge. What do I
care for the girl? Bah!" He snapped his fingers in contempt. "But she
hath flouted me, defied me,--me, Hito, whose word could send her
stripped to the torment,--and by my father's head I'll break her for it!
When I approached her with soft words, these many weeks ago, she
laughed,--mind you that!--and it is dangerous to laugh at Hito. But she
will not laugh when I am through with her! Also she said that she would
prefer the rack. A pity that in this world people cannot always have
what they prefer. More than ever I desire her; I would break her, see
her cringe and follow like a beaten hound; and the more she fights me,
the more surely I shall win, and the more my victory shall cost her.
That is my way--the way of Hito!" He licked his thick lips.

"'And the lion said: "I find it rare good sport to hunt a mouse; it is
most noble game!"'" Nicanor quoted. His voice held a taunt.

"No insolence, sirrah!" Hito snarled, instantly suspicious of ridicule.
"Because I held speech with thee to-night, it does not follow that thou
art privileged to criticize!"

"If I am insolent, why choose me for your messenger?" Nicanor asked
boldly.

Hito slipped an arm about the slave's broad shoulders and patted him.

"Because thou art a man after mine own heart," he said smoothly.
"Because I love thee and thy bold eyes and thy dare-devil recklessness,
and would make a friend of thee. Why else? Now, then, to-morrow thou
shalt bring the girl to me. I am minded for an hour's sport with the
tiger-cat. My fingers itch for that lean throat of hers. After, I will
give her to thee if it please thee--and then we'll see what the rack
will leave of her beauty." His oily chuckle was diabolic.

"And our lady?" Nicanor suggested. "What will she say when she knows how
a handmaiden of hers hath been disposed of?"

"How will she know," Hito retorted, "when there be a dozen and odd to
take her place? A slave more or less is a small matter in this house."
His tone was significant. "So bring h