Chapter 13 THE MARTYRDOM OF MR. STEVENS

Pietro: Th' offense, it seemeth me,

Is one that by mercy's extremest stretch

Might be o'erpassed.

Cosimo: Never, Pietro, never!

The Brotherhood's honour untouchable

Is touch'd thereby. We build our labyrinth

Of sacred words and potent spells, and all

The deep-involvèd horrors of our craft-

Its entrance hedg'd about with drea