But a sudden thought crossed my mind. In my
pocket I held that which would give an instant and a painless
death. It was my own safeguard against torture, and yet this
poor soul was in very pressing need of it, and he had deserved
well of France. I took out my phial and emptied it into the cup
of wine. I was in the act of handing it to him when I heard a
sudden clash of arms outside the door.
In an instant I put out my light and slipped behind the
window-curtains. Next moment the door was flung open and two
Spaniards strode into the room, fierce, swarthy men in the dress
of citizens, but with muskets slung over their shoulders. I
looked through the chink in the curtains in an agony of fear lest
they had come upon my traces, but it was evident that their visit
was simply in order to feast their eyes upon my unfortunate
compatriot.
One of them held the lantern which he carried up in front of the
dying man, and both of them burst into a shout of mocking
laughter. Then the eyes of the man with the lantern fell upon
the flagon of wine upon the table.
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