nd it takes four men to hold him. Body of me! Who would
have thought the old man to have such lungs!"

A smothered exclamation from the semi-darkness beside him sent his hand
leaping to the dagger concealed in his tunic. In the same instant he saw
that it was Eldris.

"Who is it?" she whispered fearfully. "Oh, why do they not kill him and
have it over! I heard as I was passing--I had to come!" She clasped her
hands over her ears and shuddered. Nicanor folded his arms across his
chest and leaned against the wall, looking down at her. When she lowered
her hands, he said:

"It may be that our lord hath not given command that he die."

"Who is it?" she repeated.

"Marcus," he answered, and saw her draw breath with a quick sob.

"Ah, poor old man! What hath he done to deserve this?"

"Rather it is because he will not--because he cannot do what they would
have him," said Nicanor. His words were reckless, still more his tone;
it was even as though he cared not enough about the matter to hide his
knowledge from her.

"Do you know what it is? Oh, if they would but kill him in very pity!"
She wrung her hands.

"Ay, I know," said Nicanor.

"Was it his fault?" she asked eagerly. He hesitated, his bold eyes on
her face.

"No," he said. "It was not his fault. He was in the right."

She turned on him in horror.

"You know him innocent, and yet you stand here idle while he is done to
death!" she cried. "Oh, go--go quickly and tell them he is not to blame!
Make them set him free!" She caught his arm and he felt her fingers
shake. "Are you a coward, that you will listen to his cries when a word
of yours could release him? I had not thought it of you--oh, I had not
thought it of you!"

"Suppose a word of mine should set me in his place?" said Nicanor
harshly. "Maybe I am coward; but calling me one will not make me one.
Suppose I were in his place; suppose that in my fall I carried others
with me,--others who at all costs must be shielded,--is it not better
that one should suffer than that our world should crash about our ears?
He is old and worthless--"

"And you are young and worthy to have his blood spilled for you!" she
taunted in a shaking voice. "I do not understand, it may be, but it
seems that this frail old man must suffer that you, so brave, so
powerful, whose life is of so great worth, may go unharmed. Why should
you be set in his place? Is the fault yours? If it be, and you seek
shelter behind his helplessne