then the inevitable , he was forced to do what was bid of him , he scorned his greed , he had taken the coin , and now the thief was most insistent , he recalled how every joint in his body was being pulled apart , the pain of it , he ablik had been reduced to a snivelling pile of distorted flesh and bone , right there on the street where he had his lodgings , the thief smiling at him , persuading him through his torment that he should do the task bid of him and that he should uphold the unbreakable agreement made .