THE NINTH MAN
mitted to tell the truth: he had the greater genius for fighting—not more bravery, mind you, but as much; I grant you that. And, more, he had a brain in that misshapen head of his.
After our defeat came the edict. What it meant I did not know, except that it was respite from death; and I had not drawn long breaths enough that I myself was safe, as well as the persons of those I loved, when my young mistress came to me.
"They say that I and all of the house are to appear in the public square and walk in person past Egidio Mazzaleone."
She frowned at me as though I had done this thing.
"Lady," I made haste to reply, "I know not."
She pressed her lips together as if she would have spoken angrily to me, but she did not, and went to the window.
"See," she said, looking at the crowd in the street that wandered aimlessly up and down, on their faces the frozen look of those who still stare death in the face. It seemed to me that they had the desolation of driven sheep who smell the slaughter-
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