your brethren to fly from plots and to be
careful of what you eat and drink."

"I do not desire to live, General," he answered. "Oh! that I might die.
Would that I might die."

"Death is not difficult to find, Prince," I replied, and left him.

These may seem hard words, but, be it remembered, I was no Christian
then, but a heathen man. To see one who had been great and fallen from
his greatness, one whom Fortune had deserted utterly, whining at Fate
like a fretful child, and yet afraid to seek his freedom, moved me to
contempt as well as to pity. Therefore, I spoke the words.

Yet all the rest of that day they weighed upon my mind, for I knew well
how I should have interpreted them were I in this poor Caesar's place. So
heavily did they weigh that, during the following night, an impulse drew
me from my bed and caused me to visit the cells in which these princes
were imprisoned. Four of them were dark and silent, but in that of
Nicephorus burned a light. I listened at the door, and through the
key-place heard that the prisoner within was praying, and sobbing as he
prayed.

Then I went away; but when I reached the end of the long passage
something drew me back again. It was as though a hand I could not see
were guiding me. I returned to the door of the cell, and now through it
heard choking sounds. Quickly I shot the bolts and unlocked it with my
master-key. This was what I saw within:

To a bar of the window-place was fastened such a rope as monks wear for
a girdle; at the end of the rope was a noose, and in that noose the head
of Nicephorus. There he hung, struggling. His hands had gripped the rope
above his head, for though he had sought Death, at the last he tried to
escape him. Of such stuff was Nicephorus made. Yet it was too late, or
would have been, for as I entered the place his hands slipped from the
thin cord, which tightened round his throat, choking him.

My sword was at my side. Drawing it, with a blow I cut the rope and
caught him in my arms. Already he was swooning, but I poured water over
his face, and, as his neck remained unbroken, he recovered his breath
and senses.

"What play is this, Prince?" I asked.

"One that you taught me, General," he answered painfully. "You said that
death could be found. I went to seek him, but at the last I feared.
Oh! I tell you that when I thrust away that stool, my blind eyes were
opened, and I saw the fires of hell and the hands of devils grasping at
my soul