He raised his hands above his head in a gesture which challenged the compassion of gods and men.

"I! In two years----" His voice failed, he could not go on.
"Believe me, Messer Blondel," Basterga answered after a long and sorrowful pause, "I am grieved.

Deeply grieved," he continued in a tone of feeling, "to hear this.

Do the physicians give no hope ?" "Sons of the Horse-Leech!" the Syndic cried, a new passion shaking him in its turn.

"They give me two years! Two years! And it may be less.
Less!" he cried, raising his voice.