is natural
tone.

"I only want you to tell us frankly, in a straightforward and honourable
manner, what you know of this society and its adherents. First of all,
how long have you known Bolla?"

"I never met him in my life. I know nothing whatever about him."

"Really? Well, we will return to that subject presently. I think you
know a young man named Carlo Bini?"

"I never heard of such a person."

"That is very extraordinary. What about Francesco Neri?"

"I never heard the name."

"But here is a letter in your handwriting, addressed to him. Look!"

Arthur glanced carelessly at the letter and laid it aside.

"Do you recognize that letter?"

"No."

"You deny that it is in your writing?"

"I deny nothing. I have no recollection of it."

"Perhaps you remember this one?"

A second letter was handed to him, and he saw that it was one which he
had written in the autumn to a fellow-student.

"No."

"Nor the person to whom it is addressed?"

"Nor the person."

"Your memory is singularly short."

"It is a defect from which I have always suffered."

"Indeed! And I heard the other day from a university professor that you
are considered by no means deficient; rather clever in fact."

"You probably judge of cleverness by the police-spy standard; university
professors use words in a different sense."

The note of rising irritation was plainly audible in Arthur's voice. He
was physically exhausted with hunger, foul air, and want of sleep; every
bone in his body seemed to ache separately; and the colonel's voice
grated on his exasperated nerves, setting his teeth on edge like the
squeak of a slate pencil.

"Mr. Burton," said the colonel, leaning back in his chair and speaking
gravely, "you are again forgetting yourself; and I warn you once more
that this kind of talk will do you no good. Surely you have had enough
of the dark cell not to want any more just for the present. I tell you
plainly that I shall use strong measures with you if you persist in
repulsing gentle ones. Mind, I have proof--positive proof--that some
of these young men have been engaged in smuggling prohibited literature
into this port; and that you have been in communication with them. Now,
are you going to tell me, without compulsion, what you know about this
affair?"

Arthur bent his head lower. A blind, senseless, wild-beast fury was
beginning to stir within him like a live thing. The possibility of
losing command over himself was