Page:Mr. Wu (IA mrwumilnlouisejo00milniala).pdf/243

 He was insanely angry with Wu. The offender rarely forgives!

"The heated language of youth!" the mandarin said with contemptuous patronage. "But I will be indulgent. You will admit, I think, that, so far, you have been dealt with leniently—considering the resourcefulness usually attributed to us in the matter of ingenious torture."

"I presume you have not yet exhausted your ingenuity," Gregory said with sullen, trembling lips.

"By no means," was the bland reply.

"And that is why I am brought here; I supposed so."

"Partly," the Chinese replied coldly; "also to prepare you for a shock."

"Death"—Basil tried to say it stoically. And, too, since it was to come, it would almost be welcome in place of such suspense.

"Nothing so pleasant," Wu replied.