crimes are known now answer or make an end for i have more business to attend to than the love of a of a youth first what you have told me of the of van your and others of his household namely red martin and your half brother at the of your enemy the is true is it not yes answered but i do not see what that has to do with the matter silence thundered the master then he paused a while and seemed to hear certain strange proceeding from the walls the sage remained lost in thought till the ceased again he spoke you have told me of the part played by the said and the said martin as to their sailing away with the treasure of the dead and of the the in the shot tower by them in the course of its hiding in the is true is it not of course it is answered but � silence again thundered the sage or by my lord i throw up the case and there was another pause you believe he went on again that the said and the said van together with the said martin are making preparations to that innocent and unhappy maid the for evil purposes of their own i never told you so said but i think it is a fact at least there is a lot of packing going on you never told me do you not understand that there is no need for you to tell me anything then in the name of your lord why do you ask exclaimed the exasperated that you will know presently he answered musing once more heard the strange as of young and hungry rats i think that i will not take up your time any more he said growing thoroughly alarmed for really the proceedings were a little odd and he rose to go the master made no answer only which was curious conduct for a sage he began to whistle a tune by your leave said for the s back was against the door i have business and so have i replied the sage and went on whistling then suddenly the side of one of the walls seemed to fall out and through the opening emerged a man wrapped in a priest s robe and after him black and another particularly evil looking fellow got it all down asked the master in an easy every day of voice the bowed and producing several of laid on the table together with an ink and a pen very well and now my young friend be so good as to sign there at the foot of the writing sign what gasped explain to him said the master he is quite right a man should know what he puts his name to then the spoke in a low business like voice this is the information of called van as taken down from his own lips wherein among things he to certain crimes of murder of the king s subjects an attempted escape from the king s committed by his van his half brother van and their servant a known as red martin shall i read the papers it will take some time if the witness so desires said the master what is that document for whispered in a hoarse voice to persuade your treacherous rival van that it will be desirable in the interests of his health that he should retire from for a while sneered his late while the butcher and black audibly only the stood silent like a black watching fate i ll not sign shouted i have been there is treachery and he bent forward to spring for the door made a sign and in another instant the butcher s fat hands were about s throat and his thick were digging at the victim s still kicked and struggled whereon at a second sign the looking man drew a great knife and coming up to him pricked him gently on the nose then spoke to him very and quietly the in the shot tower young friend he said where is that faith in me which you promised and why when i wish you to sign this quite harmless writing do you so violently refuse because i won t betray my and brother gasped i know why you want my signature and he looked at the man in a priest s robe you won t betray them sneered why you young fool you have already betrayed them fifty times over and what is more which you don t seem to remember you have betrayed yourself now look here if you choose to sign that paper or if you don t choose makes little difference to me for dear pupil i would almost as soon have your evidence by word of mouth i maybe a fool said turning sullen yes i see now that i have been a fool to trust in you and your sham arts but i am not fool enough to give evidence against my own people in any of your courts what i have said i said never thinking that it would do them harm not caring whether it would do them harm or no corrected as you had your own object to gain � the young lady whom by the way you were quite ready to doctor with a love medicine because love blinded me said put his hand upon his shoulder and shook him slightly as he answered and has it not struck yon you vain that other things may blind you also � hot irons for instance what do you mean gasped i mean that the rack is a wonderful oh it makes the most silent talk and the most solemn sing now take your choice will you sign or will you go to the torture chamber what right have you to question me asked striving to build up his 