"Why?"
"Because the traitor, Lirico, is to die at daybreak; we can't have two executions so near to each other. Let them all die together."
"Lirico," said Hunston, "and why has he to die? I haven't heard in what he has offended."
"A hateful thing," was the reply of his informant; "Lirico has offended against the foundation rule of the band."
"How?"
"He has kept to himself the booty he has gained, and our law is that any member of the band who shall conceal his booty, or any part or fragment of the same, to the prejudice of his comrades and fellows shall die the death of a traitor."
Hunston was silent.
But had anybody been watching him closely then, they would have noticed that he changed colour.
It was an unpleasant topic to tackle the English ruffian upon, after all that had just taken place.
"Why so silent, comrade?" said an old brigand named Boulgaris, staring Hunston full in the face; "do you not approve?"