too. Visiting prisoners--ah, yes! I forgot.
'Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the l-least of these'--it's not very
complimentary, but one of the least is duly grateful."

"Signor Rivarez," the Cardinal interrupted, "I have come here on your
account--not on my own. If you had not been 'undermost,' as you call it,
I should never have spoken to you again after what you said to me last
week; but you have the double privilege of a prisoner and a sick man,
and I could not refuse to come. Have you anything to say to me, now I am
here; or have you sent for me merely to amuse yourself by insulting an
old man?"

There was no answer. The Gadfly had turned away, and was lying with one
hand across his eyes.

"I am--very sorry to trouble you," he said at last, huskily; "but could
I have a little water?"

There was a jug of water standing by the window, and Montanelli rose
and fetched it. As he slipped his arm round the Gadfly to lift him, he
suddenly felt the damp, cold fingers close over his wrist like a vice.

"Give me your hand--quick--just a moment," the Gadfly whispered. "Oh,
what difference does it make to you? Only one minute!"

He sank down, hiding his face on Montanelli's arm, and quivering from
head to foot.

"Drink a little water," Montanelli said after a moment. The Gadfly
obeyed silently; then lay back on the pallet with closed eyes. He
himself could have given no explanation of what had happened to him when
Montanelli's hand had touched his cheek; he only knew that in all his
life there had been nothing more terrible.

Montanelli drew his chair closer to the pallet and sat down. The Gadfly
was lying quite motionless, like a corpse, and his face was livid
and drawn. After a long silence, he opened his eyes, and fixed their
haunting, spectral gaze on the Cardinal.

"Thank you," he said. "I--am sorry. I think--you asked me something?"

"You are not fit to talk. If there is anything you want to say to me, I
will try to come again to-morrow."

"Please don't go, Your Eminence--indeed, there is nothing the matter
with me. I--I have been a little upset these few days; it was half of it
malingering, though--the colonel will tell you so if you ask him."

"I prefer to form my own conclusions," Montanelli answered quietly.

"S-so does the colonel. And occasionally, do you know, they are rather
witty. You w-w-wouldn't think it to look at him; but s-s-sometimes he
gets hold of an or-r-riginal idea. On Friday night, f