ched
something that drew from him an exclamation of joy ... he had found a
pile of bottles. He seized one and opened it with a corkscrew which lay
near by.

One draught and he realized that the bottle contained wine. Thereupon he
opened several more but with the same result. To drink them would only
increase his thirst. He had the strength to resist the temptation. Again
he moved forward and this time ran into a large box. His hand touched
something cold. It was meat of some kind. After smelling and tasting it
he flung it from him. It was a salt ham.

Hours passed while Frederick-Christian suffered the tortures of hunger
and thirst. Cold and tired out, he finally lay down on the ground,
writhing with violent pains in his stomach. At length he could stand it
no longer, and dragging himself to the box, he seized the ham and began
to devour it ravenously. This brought on a maddening thirst, which he
tried to quench by long draughts of the wine. Then he became very drunk
and so, laughing and crying, he drank until he lost consciousness once
more.

* * * * *

"Sire! Can you hear me?"

A sharp voice broke the silence. It seemed to come from a distance.

"Sire, can you hear me?... Answer!"

Frederick-Christian sprang up.

"Who is speaking? Who are you? Help! Help!"

The voice, mocking and authoritative, answered:

"Now, then, keep quiet. I am not within reach, so it is useless to cry
for help."

"Scoundrel!" cried the King.

"There's no use in behaving like a child ... you won't gain anything by
it."

"Pity, pity!... I will make you rich ... I will give you anything you
ask, only set me at liberty ... take me out of this prison or I shall
become mad."

"Have you done with your lamentations?"

"I'll be revenged!"

"I am beyond your vengeance, Sire, and you would do well to talk quietly
with me."

"You killed my mistress, Susy d'Orsel!"

"Yes, I killed her."

"You are Fandor--Jerome Fandor!"

"What you say is absurd."

"And my Kingdom? The Queen, my wife? What is happening?"

"I didn't come here to discuss politics with you. You must be
reasonable."

"What do you want with me? Why was I brought here?"

"Ah, now we can discuss the matter together. You ask me what I want.
First of all, let me reassure you. I do not intend to kill you. Your
death would not be of the slightest use to me. Otherwise I shouldn't
hesitate an instant."

"I'm not afraid of death."

"I k