It is about four inches thick and is plated with heavy iron bars.

In the middle is a little grating that was used to throw in whatever was necessary to prevent the captive from starving.

It was this grating which opened instead of the door, which, being the mouth of the most terrible confessions, was one of those that always closed but never opened.

In those days there was real hatred.

If you hated a person, and he had been kidnapped by surprise or traitorously trapped in an interview, and was in your power, you could torture him at your own sweet will.