Колодець і маятник

           Itwashopethatpromptedthenervetoquiver—theframetoshrink. Itwashope—thehopethattriumphsontherack—thatwhisperstothedeath-condemnedeveninthedungeonsoftheInquisition. 

           Isawthatsometenortwelvevibrationswouldbringthesteelinactualcontactwithmyrobe,andwiththisobservationtheresuddenlycameovermyspiritallthekeen,collectedcalmnessofdespair. Forthefirsttimeduringmanyhours—orperhapsdays—Ithought. Itnowoccurredtomethatthebandage,orsurcingle,whichenvelopedme,wasunique. Iwastiedbynoseparatecord. Thefirststrokeoftherazorlikecrescentathwartanyportionoftheband,wouldsodetachitthatitmightbeunwoundfrommypersonbymeansofmylefthand. Buthowfearful,inthatcase,theproximityofthesteel! Theresultoftheslighteststrugglehowdeadly! Wasitlikely,moreover,thattheminionsofthetorturerhadnotforeseenandprovidedforthispossibility! Wasitprobablethatthebandagecrossedmybosominthetrackofthependulum? Dreadingtofindmyfaint,and,asitseemed,inlasthopefrustrated,Isofarelevatedmyheadastoobtainadistinctviewofmybreast. Thesurcingleenvelopedmylimbsandbodycloseinalldirections—saveinthepathofthedestroyingcrescent.