The jester laughed shortly. "I had not meant for thee to glance upon this scene," he said, "but if 'twere best, then look, lady, look!" and he threw open the trap. A great red light flared up into the donjon, and waved and danced along the moon-green walls. The empty bier seemed licked in ruddy flames, and on the moist mould of the ceiling, each little drop of water sparkled like a ruby.
"Look at him," repeated the jester. "Shrink not; they are only heating the irons."
She crept to the edge of the trap, and peered down, fascinated. "Who are those huge hairy men, with wild beasts' faces?" she asked.
"The torturers."
"Oh! what have they done to his hair—to all his long, pretty locks? How strange he looks with his head shaven thus! And see! what is the torturer to do with that glowing iron in his hand? Ugh!" and she fell back, near swooning.
There was a sudden sizzle of burnt flesh and stenching smoke.
"Look," commanded the jester. "Look again."
"I dare not—nay, I cannot," and she flung herself away from the trap, and lay at full length on the floor, with the moon and the furnace light reflecting a mad swirl of color over her upturned, staring face. For some moments she lay there, and above her stood the jester. Neither spoke nor moved; they could only listen and listen to the noises below them: the soft purring of the furnace-fire; the scuffle of the workers' feet; the deadened clank of instruments; the faint groans of the insensible youth; the binding, searing, ripping of flesh; the crack and crunch of bones.
"Quick," cried the jester, "before they bandage him; quick! look again," and when she shrank further back, he pushed her forward to the very edge of the trap, until she could not help but see. "And couldst thou love him now?" he asked, and keenly searched her face.
She said no word, but slightly swayed from side to side. She threw her hands before her eyes, and dug her fists deep into them, as if to blot the sight from her memory. She crouched, stunned and sickened. Her hands dropped back to her breast; and the jester saw the expression of her features.