The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-01-29
CHAPTER VIII
AFTER THE SENTENCE.

Sarcany was taken back to the cell he
occupied at the bottom of an elliptic
corridor on the second floor of the dom
Jon. Sandorf and his two friends, dur
ing the last hours of life that remained
to them, were quartered in q large cell
on the same level, exactly at the end of
the major axis of the ellipse which this
corridor made. The secret was now
known. The condemned were to be left
together until their execution.
This was consolation, even a pleasure
for them, when they found themselves
alone and allowed to give way to feel
ings which they could not at first
restrain.
my friends" said Sandorf, Il am
the cause of your deaths But 1 have
nothing to ask your pardon for We
worked for the independence of Hun
gary! Our cause was just 1t is our
duty to defend her! 1t is an honor to
die for her!"
Matthias" said Bathory, 1--WE thank
you for having associated us with you in
the patriotic work which would have
been the work of all your life"
"As we are associated with you In
death !" added Zathmar.
Then during q momentary silence the
three gazed round the gloomy cell in
which they were to spend their last
hours. A narrow window some four OF
five feet high, cut through the thick wall
of the donjon, let in certain amount of
light. There We're three iron bedsteads,
few chairs, table and q shelf or two,
on which were few articles of crockery.
Zathmar and Bathory were soon lost
in thought.
: Sandorf began to walk up and down
the cell.
Zathmar was alone in the world, had
no family ties and no near relations.
There was only his old servant, Borik,
to mourn for him,
1t was not so with Bsthory. His
death would not only prove a blow to
himself. He had a wife and son whom
it would reach. That wife and child
might even diet And ii they survived
him, how were they to live? What was
to be the future of a penniless woman
and her eight year old child Had
Bathory possessed any property, how
much of it would remain after judg.
ment which directed it to be confiscated
and sentenced him to death?
AS for Sandorf, all his past life re-
turned TO him His wife came to him
His little daughter came-a child of two
years old, now left to the care of the
steward, And there We're his friSpd'
/ x.l,n ha lao ln1 30 Il n.
himself if he had done well, if he hat
not gone farther than his duty towards
his country required? Woul that tn,
punishment had fallen on him alone
and not upon those that were innocent
"Nol no have only done my duty !!
he said to himself MY country befor
all, and above all !"
At five o'clock warder entered tin
CELL placed the dinner on the table, an,
went out again without saying word
Sandorf would have liked to know i
what fortress he was kept Il prisoner
but as the President of the court-martii
had not thought fit to answer the ques
ton it was qui e certain that the warde
would not give the information.
The prisoners hardly touched the dir
ner which Ind been prepared for then
They passed the rest OF the day talkln
on various matters in the hope th'
their abortive movement would one da
be resumed. Very often they retune
to the incidents of the trial,
"Wenow know, said Zathmar, "wh
We have been arrested, and how Il
police discoy lel MS from that lett
which they came across.
Yes, Iadislas, said Sandorf, "bl
into whose hands did that messag
which was one Of the last we receive
at first fall, and who copied iii"