8
prepared, or preparing, for him, imparted some
comfort. Besides, if he came alone, might he not
in a furious onset overpower him? Or he might
he accessible to pity, or the influence of such
munificient rewards as he could bestow, if once
more at liberty and master of himself. Say he
were armed. The worse that could befall, if not
bribe, nor prayers, nor force prevaled, was a faithful
blow, which though dealt in a damned cause,
might work a desired end. There was no chance
so desperate, but it looked lovely in Vivenzio’s eyes
compared with the idea of being totally abandoned.
The night came, and Vivenzio watched. Morning
came, and Vivenzio was confounded! He
must have slumbered without knowing it. Sleep
must have stolen over him when exhausted by
fatigue, and in the interval of feverish repose, he
had been baffled ; for there stood his replenished
pitcher of water, and there his day’s meal! Nor
was this all. Casting his looks towards the windows
of his dungeon, he counted but FIVE ! there
was no deception ; and he was now convinced there
had been seven the day before. But what did all
this portend ? Into what strange and mysterious den
had he been cast ? He gazed till his eyes ached;
he could discover nothing to explain the mystery.
That it was so, he knew. Why it was so, he racked
his imagination in vain conjecture. He examined
the doors. A single circumstance convinced him
that they had not been opened.
A wisp of straw, which he had carelessly thrown
against them the preceding day, as he paced to
and fro, remained where he had cast it, though it
must have been displaced by the slightest motion
of either of the doors. This was evidence that
could not be disputed ; and it followed there must
