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"
Hoc est superjejunare," said the serjeant.
There was silence, the awful hiss of the man's breathing was heard from
under the heap of stones.
The serjeant-at-law completed his quotation.
"Adde augmentum abstinentiæ ciborum diminutione. Consuetudo
brittanica, art. 504."
The two men, the sheriff and the serjeant, alternated. Nothing could be
more dreary than their imperturbable monotony. The mournful voice
responded to the ominous voice; it might be said that the priest and the
deacon of punishment were celebrating the savage mass of the law.
The sheriff resumed,--
"
On the first day you were given nothing to eat or drink. On the second
day you were given food, but nothing to drink. Between your teeth were
thrust three mouthfuls of barley bread. On the third day they gave you
to drink, but nothing to eat. They poured into your mouth at three
different times, and in three different glasses, a pint of water taken
from the common sewer of the prison. The fourth day is come. It is
to-day. Now, if you do not answer, you will be left here till you die.
Justice wills it."
614
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