"Is there no hope, then, at all?" said Melton. "Let us know the worst at once and be done with it."
Canaris made no reply for a moment. His eyes were fixed on the floor, and he seemed to be thinking deeply. When he looked up the expression of his face was changed. A strange light shone in his eye, a mixture of triumph and fear.
"I can tell you nothing now," he said hastily. "Tonight you shall have an answer. But tell me, how is your wound?"
"Better," replied Melton. "I can scarcely feel it at all."
"Good," said Canaris. "Now do just as I tell you. Lie down on the straw; pretend that you are much worse; moan loudly from time to time, and when I come tonight I shall have something to impart to you."
With this strange admonition, Canaris hastily left the dungeon and the guard rebolted the door.
"Is the fellow crazy?" said Melton. "What can he mean to do?"
"Crazy?" rejoined Guy. "No; I have a strange faith in that man, Melton. Do just as he tells you and see what turns up tonight."
With much grumbling Melton assumed the part of a very sick man. He rather overdid the thing, in fact, for twice the guard opened the door and looked in. About noon food was brought, and from that time no one came near them.
The minutes dragged along like hours. They tried to forget the awful fate that stared them in the face, but in spite of the Greek's encouraging words the future looked very black.