10
sleep should again betray him. Instead of
seeking his bed of straw, he continued to
walk up and down his dungeon till daylight,
straining his eyes in every direction through
the darkness, to watch for any appearance
that might explain these mysteries. While
thus engaged, and as nearly as he could judge,
(by the time that afterwards elasped before
the morning came in,) about two o’clock,
there was a slight tremulous motion of the
floors. He stooped. The motion lasted nearly
a minute ; but it was so extremely gentle,
that he almost doubted whether it was real, or
only imaginary. He listened. Not a sound
could be heard. Presently, however, he felt
a rush of cold air blow upon him ; and dashing
towards the quarter whenee it seemed to
proceed, he stumbled over something which
he judged to be the water ewer. The rush of
cold air was no longer perceptible ; and as Vivenzio
stretched out his hands, he found himself
close to the walls. He remained motionless
for a considerable time; but nothing oecurred
during the remainder of the night to
exite his attention, though he continued to
watch with unabated vigilanee.
The first approaches of the morning were
visible through the grated windows, breaking,
with faint divisions of light, the darkness that
still pervaded every other part, long before
Vivenzio was enabled to distinguish any objeet
in his dungeon. Instinctively and fearfully
