"It is indeed a terrible swelling, and the cheek looks almost raw." "He has put liniments on it," Hector said, "but they seem to have done him harm rather than good.

However, he is not so bad as he was, and I hope that the abscess will break ere long." The landlord fastened the torch up again, and said in a low tone to the other men: "There is no doubt about his face being bad." As he turned away from the table he stood between Hector and the other men, and the former seized the opportunity of pouring the contents of his mug against the wall by his knee, knowing that as the floor was of earth it would soak it up at once.

From time to time he lifted the mug to his lips, until he apparently drained it.

Then half closing his eyes he leant up against the corner.

Paolo had already laid his head down on the table, and after a time both breathed heavily and regularly.