Joshua. Oliver stood silent a little while, long enough for Higgs to
whisper to me:

"I say, isn't this downright awful? I'd rather be back in the den of
lions than live to see it."

As he spoke I saw Oliver put his hand to where his revolver usually
hung, but, of course, it had been taken from him. Next he began to
search in his pocket, and finding that tabloid of poison which I had
given him, lifted it toward his mouth. But just as it touched his lips,
my son, who was next to him, saw also. With a quick motion he struck it
from his fingers, and ground it to powder on the floor beneath his heel.

Oliver raised his arm as though to hit him, then without a sound fell
senseless. Evidently Maqueda noted all this also, for I saw a kind of
quiver go through her, and her hands gripped the arms of her chair till
the knuckles showed white beneath the skin. But she only said:

"This Gentile has fainted because he is disappointed with his reward.
Take him hence and let his companion, the Doctor Adams, attend to him.
When he is recovered, conduct them all from Mur as I have decreed. See
that they go unharmed, taking with them plenty of food lest it be said
that we only spared their lives here in order that they might starve
without our gates."

Then waving her hand to show that the matter was done with, she rose
and, followed by the judges and officers, left the court by some door
behind them.

While she spoke a strong body of guards had surrounded us, some of whom
came forward and lifted the senseless Oliver on to a stretcher. They
carried him down the court, the rest of us following.

"Look," jeered the Abati as he passed, "look at the Gentile pig who
thought to wear the Bud of the Rose upon his bosom. He has got the thorn
now, not the rose. Is the swine dead, think you?"

Thus they mocked him and us.

We reached our prison in safety, and there I set to work to revive
Oliver, a task in which I succeeded at length. When he had come to
himself again he drank a cup of water, and said quite quietly:

"You fellows have seen all, so there is no need for talk and
explanations. One thing I beg of you, if you are any friends of mine,
and it is that you will not reproach or even speak of Maqueda to me.
Doubtless she had reasons for what she did; moreover, her bringing up
has not been the same as ours, and her code is different. Do not let us
judge her. I have been a great fool, that is all, and now I am paying
for my folly, o