The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-08


'aas," rAs E4is Log" " Paiap q Lsieia, 7'sf-
CHAP XVI
| Mark keeps has Word.
The Conciergerie is not a cheerful place to
| look at, under any circumstances 1t looks
smarter, and less sombre, perhaps, since it has
received a good surface-scraping and cleaning;
since it can boast of brightfaced, new DIAL
IN place of the old one, and of new clock !;
since the little vanes ON the summits of its
pointed, slate-roofed towers, have been lavishly
gilt; in word, since it has put on smiling
face to welcome the new Empire but there is
nothing In the least attractive about it, for all
that. The golden railing of the Pdlais de jas
tice adjoining, and of which it forms a part :;
the bold fronton of that building itself, with its
noble flight of steps leading up to the portal !;
the spacious courtyard in front-all these are
part hidden from view, until you come sud-
denly full upon them, and are tempted to ask
yourself if really that can be the same place
where the students and mobocracy of the Paris
of the Middle Ages used to hold revel on All
Fools days and crown the King of the Fools
on the platform of the pillory, in front there
The Conciergerie, itself, is that long, tall line
of buildings, which overlooks the Quai du
| IdlGis de Justice having studded within its
strong walls a number of curiously. barred win.
dows, and couple of sentinels ever pacing be-
meath them. 1t is the prison which has, in its
time, held Kings, Queens, Princes, Cardinals,
Dukes, Marshals, Mobiles, Commoners, and riff.
raft, down to the vulgarest felon, previously to
giving them up into the hands of the public ex-
ecutioner, or to worse fate even than death
degradation, and lifelong misery. Not that
Mark or Gaetano as they came down the quay
on the opposite side of the river, and looked out
0ff h. 49, a IL Al r L. \
place, thought much of the historical associa-
tons connected with it, or of the personages
whose Imprisonment there had impaired to it
the terrible distinction it enjoys. For the mo-
ment, their minds were fully taken up with the
idea that it was the felons prison, and that
| they were going to be shut up in it.
The Republic was so fourishing, that all the
cells had occupants, and, before the new corners
could be disposed OF, it became necessary to
hold consultation with the officials, with
view to determine in what part of the building
the prisoners could be placed. 1t was small
relief to them to learn that they were Estate
prisoners" and had been arrested under secret
| orders from the Government Perhaps it was
ewing to this circumstance that the apartment
ultimately allotted to them was made tolerably
comfortable. 1t had two iron bedsteads, Ia
(ble, two stools, and piece of broken looking
| glass and the turnkey who introduced them to
their new quarters dwelt upon the luxurious
ness of their domestic arrangements, with eyj-
dent complacency.
"You may have anything you please, gentle
men," he said "our orders are not to refuse
you anything. There is only one thing forbid
demand that is, you will not be permitted to
communicate with your friends until we receive
| orders"
"That is unusual remarked PelEg GRIM )"
why is this? ?"
| The turnkey shrugged his shoulders, and an
swered that those were the orders"
| 81 would advise you, gentlemen" he contin-
ued, "to make arrangements for receiving your
meals from outside. The prison fare is none of
the best"
"And if we have no money? And if we NAV
not communicate with our friends 2" calculated
Mark.
"Oh, that is easily arranged" replied the Of
fetal q will procure you credit, gentlemen.
II will cost you little more, of course but
you will not mind paying for the accommoda-
| tion."
The arrangement proving satisfactory to all
parties, it was agreed to carry it out, should it
become necessary to do so. For the present
both prisoners had sufficient for their fmmedi.
ate wants, and a fee from each having secured
them sundry domestic necessaries, of which
they stood in need, they were ultimately left to
their own reflections.
For more than an hour, neither spoke. Gae
tano drew a stool up into one corner of the
chamber, and, resting his elbows on his knees
buried his face in his long, lean hands, remain
| ing perfectly still. Mark took to pacing the
floor, every now and then casting look of in
tense malice upon his colleague in vice, crouch
ing in the corner. After while, he stopped
short at the window, and began to think He
could see the river so he knew the window
overlooked the quay. A thought struck him |!
What was it?
He was still thinking, when he heard himself
addressed, by his own name. He knew it was
the attorney, so he said, "well?" and looked
round.
| give been thinking, Monsieur Aveling"
said Gaetano that we are in bad hands, We
are lost"
"Then you have not been thinking to much
purpose" retorted Mark, looking out of the
window again.
81 say we are lost" pursued the other sun
| less we can" - here Mark turned sharply
round" unless we can effect our escape" con-
tinued the attorney, in husky voice. at is
| to be DONE"
"How?" asked Aveling.
care you willing to make the attempt?"
asked Gaetano.
| "What shall we do if we succeed ?" inquir-
| ed Mark
"Shift each for himself" was the reioinder.
| Mark did not reply Immediately, but took to
| thinking again. He had devised plan, too,
and wanted the attorneys help; indeed, with
out it, he could not carry it out; so it was for
| tunate they had both been bordering on the
same subject. But the revenge he meditated
Oh, he could not relinquish the thought of that!
| He had made up his mind to have it, at all
risks; and from this terrible determination of
his, he would not be shaken. How he should
take it must be decided by circumstances and
by opportunity. He would, at any rate, hear
the attorneys plan.
I'll help you," he said, facing him again,
if your plan is practicable"
"It requires boldness," responded Gaetano !;
but it is to be done. 1t has been done once"
Marks eyes cleaned. He became interest
ed at once, and now asked the attorney to go
on.
| i have had something to do, in my time"
resumed Pelligrini, with few men of despe-
rate character, one of whom was, to the best of
my recollection, confined in one of these cham
bers. de contrived to remove the bars from
the window, and having, by a great effort,
reached the drain-pipe, he clambered by its
means to the roof, whence he made his way
along the cutters to the houses at the back.
He thence obtained access, through an attic
/ window, into one of these houses, and, boldly
sThs Is, Of Applied.