"It is true."
"You have," said the next of the Chiefs, "accepted reward to place the lives of your brethren at the mercy of their enemies."
"It is true."
"You have," said he who occupied the lowest seat upon the left, "forsworn in heart and deed, if not in word, the vows by which you willingly bound yourself, and the law whose boons you had accepted."
Again the same confession, forced evidently by some overwhelming power from one who would, if he could, have denied or remained silent.
"And to whom," said Esmo, interposing for the first time, "have you thus betrayed us?"
"I know not," was the reply.
"Explain," said the Chief immediately to the left of the Throne, who, if there were a difference in the expression of the calm sad faces, seemed to entertain more of compassion and less of disgust and repulsion towards the offender than any other.
"Those with whom I spoke," replied the culprit, in the same strange tone, "were not known to me, but gave token of authority next to that of the Camptâ. They told me that the existence of the Order had long been known, that many of its members were clearly indicated by their household practices, that their destruction was determined; that I was known as a member of the Order, and might choose between perishing first of their victims and receiving reward such as I should name myself for the information I could give."
"What have you told?" asked another of the Chiefs.