Part 8

“In love’s name, then, and hers, _absolvo te_”--And the thread of sound dropped into a silence that was to remain unbroken.

The man lay still, clenching his hands and unclenching them. The thrusts of pain had grown very sharp, but he grimly set his teeth. He might ask for morphine; but if he took it “Arthur” might come and go while he lay in stupor, and the message remain forever undelivered. He looked at the clock on the opposite wall. Perhaps he had still three hours to wait. What should he do? That last dart was keenest of them all. What did people do in torture, people who had made promises that they must stay to keep? Surely there was something. Ah, that was it. Of course. They prayed. Then why not he, as well?

His lips moved feverishly.

“Christ, thou who suffered for love’s sake, give me--give me the pluck to hold out three hours more.”

Transcriber’s Notes

Minor punctuation errors have been corrected.

Page 115: “at at the corner” changed to “at the corner”

Page 151: “the amenites” changed to “the amenities”