e point where my will failed me to hold out, the power
failed me (I thank Heaven) to lift a hand. Yet the will struggled
feebly; struggled on to the verge over which all sensation dropped
plumb, as into a pit.

I unclosed my eyes upon the grey dawn; but upon what dawn I knew not,
whether of earth or purgatory or hell itself. They saw it swimming
in a vague light: but my ears, from a sound as of rushing waters,
awoke to a silence on which a small footfall broke, a few yards away.
Marc'antonio must have unpenned the hogs; for the sty was empty.
And the hogs in their rush must have thrown down the hurdles
protecting me; for these lay collapsed, the one at my side, the other
across me.

The light footfall drew close and halted. I looked up into the face
of the Princess.

She came, picking her way across the mire; and with caution, as if
she feared to be overheard. Clearly she had expected to find the sty
empty, for even to my dazed senses her dismay was evident as she
caught sight of me beneath the hurdle.

"You have not gone! Oh, why have you not gone?"

She was on her knees beside me in the filth. I heard her calling to
Marc'antonio, and presently Marc'antonio came, obedient as ever, yet
protesting.

"He has not gone!" She moved her hands with a wringing gesture.

I tried to speak, but for answer could only spread my hand, which
still grasped the file: and for days after it kept a blue weal bitten
across the palm.

I heard Marc'antonio's voice protesting as she took the file and
sawed with it frantically across my neck-chain.

"But he must escape and hide, at least."

"He cannot, Princess. The torture has worn him out."

"It were better he died, then. For I must go."

"It were better he died, Princess: but his youth is tough. And that
you must go is above all things necessary. The Prince would kill
me. . . ."

"A little while, Marc'antonio! The file is working."

"To what end, Princess?--since time is wanting. The bugle will
call--it may call now at any moment. And if the Prince should miss
you--Indeed it were better that he died--"

Their voices swam on my ear through giddy whirls of mist, I heard him
persuade her to go--at the last insist upon her going. Still the
file worked.

Suddenly it ceased working. It seemed to me that they both had
withdrawn, and my neck still remained in bondage, though my legs were
free. I knew that my legs were free though I had not the power to
test