Odd screams punctuate the flame-lit dimness, followed by incomprehensible gibbers of sound as some poor wretch elsewhere in the bowels of the Bastille wakes to another day of incarceration. Down in one of the basement chambers, the perspiration-slick torso of the head torturer bends over a bed of hot coals, blowing them to a white-hot glow with a pair of bellows. A naked man dangles by his wrists at the end of a chain which hangs from the ceiling, his body already marked with burns from the hot irons which have stroked his flesh to agony. Another man, this one dressed in gold-edged black, is standing next to him and whispering into his ear: "Come on, Jacques! You knew what you were doing, didn't you? Assaulting the King wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision, not when you had to have the eggs to hand...all I want to know is whose orders you were following. Tell me and the pain will stop - we will even let you keep the rest of your teeth, my friend. No more pliers in your mouth, no more branding irons on your stomach..." The dangling man moans softly, but says nothing. "On the other hand, if you _don't_ tell me who it was...well, we have barely begun to investigate all the equipment in this room..." The man in black waves his arm around, indicating the rack, the iron maiden, the thumbscrews and fingernail spikes, then continues in a conversational tone of voice. "This has all been used to great effect by the Inquisition over the years, you know. Carnifex over there is an expert in keeping prisoners alive, or at least keeping their remains alive. You really _don't_ want him to be demonstrating just how good he is, not on your own body. Just answer that simple question - I won't insult your intelligence by telling you that you will be released: assaulting His Majesty means that you will die, but I can promise you a painless death at the end of a rope, instead of a slow, lingering death at the hands of our torturer..." There is a mumbled response from the victim which causes his questioner to lean in closer as the mumble is repeated. A raised eyebrow is the response, followed by a stern command, "Describe him!" __________________________________________________ *BANG BANG BANG* "OPEN UP IN THE NAME OF THE KING!" The door swings slowly open, revealing an aging servitor who peers out at the uniformed men on the doorstep in some confusion. "Yes, gentlemen?" "We have here a request from His Majesty for Jean Louis Gruyere to accompany us!" "Jean-Louis? I don't think that he is awake yet..." The butler breaks off as a distinguished figure appears at the foot of the stairs, tying his robe securely around him. "And what might your business with Jean-Louis be, gentlemen?" "Baron de Success, your manservant has been implicated in the recent assault on His Majesty, and we are to take him to the Bastille for questioning..."
