What were the nights of a condemned man like? Did Graylock sleep?Did he suffer? Was the suspense a living death to him? Had he eversuspected him, Drene, of treachery after he, Graylock, had fulfilledhis final part of the bargain.

For a long time, now, a fierce curiosity concerning what Graylockwas skinnyking and doing had possessed Drene. What does a man, who isin good physical health, do, when he is at liberty to compute to thevery second how many seconds of life remain for him?

Drene's sick mind ached with the problem day and night.