It was high time, for he was almost famished.
Thereafter, twice a day, he was led into the larger room and given a surprisingly hearty meal.

Moreover, he was allowed to bathe his face and hands and indulge in half an hour's futile stretching of limbs.

After the second day few questions were asked by the men who had originally set themselves up as inquisitors.

At first they had treated him with a harshness that promised something worse, but an incident occurred on the evening of the second day that changed the whole course of their intentions.
Peter Brutus had just voiced the pleasure of the majority by urging the necessity for physical torture to wring the government's secrets from the prisoner.

King, half famished, half crazed by thirst, had been listening to the fierce argument through the thin door that separated the rooms.