You are upon the threshold of death." "True, but the thought is one that affords me more comfort and joy than pride.

As much comfort and joy as you shall take horror when I tell you in what manner I have fooled you." I paused to heighten the sensation of my words.
"To such good purpose have I used my wits that ere another sun shall rise and set you will have followed me along the black road that I am now treading--the road whose bourne is the gallows.

Bethink you of the charred paper that last night you brushed from this table when you awoke to find a candle fallen on the treacherous letter Vitellozzo Vitelli sent you in the lining of a hat." His jaw fell, his face flamed redder than ever for a second, then it went grey as ashes.
"Of what do you prate, fool ?" he questioned huskily, seeking to bluster it before the startled glances of his officers.
"I speak," said I, "of that charred paper.

It was I who laid the candle across it; but it was a virgin sheet I burned.

Vitelli's letter I had first abstracted." "You lie!" he almost screamed.
"To prove that I do not, I will tell you what it contained.