"Tell me now--and tell me truly," said the General after a pause, in which he seemed trying to make out whether the Senator was joking or not. "To whom are you sent in this city?"
"To no one."
"Sir! I warn you that I will not be trifled with."
"I tell you," said the Senator, with no apparent excitement, "I tell you that I have come here to no one. What more can I say?"
"You must confess."
"I have nothing to confess."
"Sir! you have much to confess," cried the General, angrily, "and I swear to you I will wring it out of you. Beware how you trifle with my patience. If you wish to regain your liberty confess at once, and you may escape your just punishment. But if you refuse, then, by the immortal gods, I'll shut you up in a dungeon for ten years!"
"You will do no such thing."
"What!" roared the General. "Won't I?"
"You will not. On the contrary, you will have to make apologies for these insults."