“‘Why didn’t you say so at once?’
“‘I was afraid to, your Excellency.’
“‘What were your afraid of?’
“‘I don’t know.’
“‘That’s odd!’
“‘I’m afraid of everything, your Excellency! They nearly killed me, and for the life of me I can’t make out why!’
“Well, when I said that he began to laugh, and said—
“‘Don’t you be afraid; just tell me the truth.’
“‘I’ll tell everything I know,’ said I. And he asked me—
“‘What did you want with poisoned pills?’