"You no longer protest your ignorance, but only that you cannot tell me.

Up with him, Martino." In a last pitiable struggle against the inevitable, the fool broke from his guards, and flung himself towards the door.

One of the burly Swiss caught him by the neck in a grip that made him cry out with pain.

Gian Maria eyed him with a sinister smile, and Martin proceeded to fasten one end of the rope to his pinioned wrists.

Then they led him, shivering to the great bed.