Ifollowedtheritetoitsend，observingtheseunhappyprisonersseekingfromthemysteryoftheirfaiththeonlyconsolationthatremainedtothem。Manyofthemweremeninnocentofanycrime，savethatofadherencetosomefallencause，politicalorreligious；
victimswerethey，notsinners，tobereleasedbydeathalone。I
rememberthat，asthemeaningofthescenecamehometome，IrecalledthewordsofIrene，whohadsaidthatshebelievedthisworldtobeahell，andfoundweightinthem。Atlength，abletobearnomore，I
leftmyhiding-placeandwentintothegardenbehindthechapel。Here，atleast，werenaturalthings。Hereflowers，tendedbytheprisoners，bloomedastheymighthavedoneinsomelessaccursedspot。Herethefreebirdssangandnestedinthetrees，forwhattothemwerethehighsurroundingwalls？
Isatmyselfdownuponaseatintheshade。Presently，asIhadexpected，Nicephorus，thepriest-C鎠ar，andhisfourbrethrencameintothegarden。Twoofthemledtheblindmanbythehand，andtheothertwoclungclosetohim，foralltheseunfortunateslovedeachotherdearly。Thefourwiththesplittonguesgabbledinhisears。Nowandagain，whenhecouldcatchorguessatthemeaningofaword，heansweredthespeakergently；ortheothers，seeingthathehadnotunderstoodthemaright，painfullytriedtoexplaintheerror。Oh！itwasapiteousthingtoseeandhear。MygorgeroseagainsttheyoungbruteofanEmperorandhiscouncillorswho，forambition’ssake，hadwroughtthishorriblecrime。LittledidIknowthenthaterelongtheirfatewouldbehisown，andthatamother’shandwoulddealitouttohim。