His expression was as calmly attentive as it would have been were his master yawning after a healthy nap instead of screaming with all the tortures of the damned.

As Braden hurried by, hardly knowing whither he went, the servant did something he had never done before in his life.

He ventured to lay a detaining hand upon the arm of a superior.
"Did he ask you to--to do it, Master Braden ?" he whispered hoarsely.

The man's eyes were glazed with dread.
Braden stopped.

At first he did not comprehend.