CHAPTER III
AS I would have gone, my duties being over and my lists given to the captain, I heard the voice of Mazzaleone as though he spoke low in my ear, yet he was many paces behind me, say, "Stay, boy," and I wheeled as though the voice of him had been a power that turned me on my heels; and I hope I looked at him squarely enough while he told me I was to go forth into the city and bring him back news of what I saw.
"Be eyes for me," said he.
He sighed deeply, as though a great weakness were upon him, and I with a fear in my heart turned and left him, to do as he bade me—fear, because I now saw the game of cat-and-mouse which he was playing with us. I had heard of other conquerors possessing a town; but he possessed us, it seemed to me, as no conqueror had possessed any. Though I had but a shadow of the subtlety of his imagination, I hated him that he should sit there and watch us through the narrow, bright slits of his eyes, and rest his long, tired length with the spectacle of us.
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