The times., 1897-05-02


had forgotten. He took pleasure in CALI
ing to mind it's aspects when last he had
seen it. That was when they carried him
over the Pont Neuf to prison. The river
had been alive with boats then; with boats
and barges, and galIants going down to
Passy, and merry testers making merry
music, aud all the life and brightness
OF the great city. Today, he said grim
ly, all that world passed within a stones
throw OF him; yet his eyes were blinded
to the sights, his ears deaf 10 the music;
he would never see that river again;
the world would pass forever by and no
cry of his go out, no hand of pity be Of
fered to him. And while this thought was
in his mind the lap of the waves grew
stronger the sound of swiring water
began to fill the whole cell. He realized
quite suddenly, yet with new and I'M
measurable dread, that the river would
riseaboye the level of hiscell. When at last
a cold stream of water touched his ieet,
he cried out anew, thinking that they
meant to diown him, and had brought him
to the Bombee tower with that intent
The water rose slowly, tapping about
thef-ct and knees and hands of the prisoner
Eut he had imagined a fate which was aot
In the minds OF those who sent him To the
dungeon. Twice every day the Some
washed the floor of this cell, bringing up
great rats in It's FLOOD, and leaving The
oozing slime ana filth of ts waters upon
the straw which aade the prisoner
bed. Just when jacques dc Serrcfott
was telling himself that the water would
cover his mouth presently, its flow ceased.
and taught him the devilish maiignisy Of
his captors. Wet and cold and shivering
the wre&chcd man stood for long hours
while the stream ebbed. Then he sank
again upon his reeking bed To ask how he
should support another day Of torture so
revolving and cruel. He could not forget
that there had been prisoners who had
spent long years in this very cell, who had
become raving mad-men and yet had lived
on; sport for their jailers, but not food for
death. Serrefort swore that no such fate
should be his; be would find another
way; nc would cast himself upon the nIcrcy
of heaven and end the terror before n ason
robbed him or the power.
Until this time, and he judged that il
must now be night, no sign had been given
that those above remembered his existence
Though he listened long and called ont
"
voice, no tread in the passage without. He
would have welcomed death as a gift ,f
mercy; but, fol- the time being, he had
neither the strength nor the will TO compel
death Rather, he turned to think OF old
Ba,.:istes promise that he would conie
again; OF his assurance that his daughter
Irene would return To Paris TO bring him the
comforts OF the cells above. But the hours
"A x.l.l la..d
and the fever of the cell racked tbs bones.
He had been known ever as one who had
clear mind, quick, active, farseeing; but
the darkness OF the dungeon in the Bombec
already warred upon his brain. a drowsi-
ness crept upon him, Natures medicine
against his terror; he could not sleep, yet
became almost insensible to the horrors OF
the cell; he forgot where he was: visions
OF his home and wife came back to him so
that when his cell door was opened pres
emily and the flare of a torch lit up its in
most recesses, those VINO visited hi i'm found
tears running down his cheeks and woId
OF love upon his lips.
Senefort had thought, when he heard
the key CRATE In the lock, that il was old
Baptiste come back as he had promise d;
hut SO soon as his eyes Were awake to the
ligat. h helooked up to see the bailiff Hubert,
the governor of the prison; and with him
tall eray-haired man, whose fine dress
and white ruffies We're strange things to
findin the Conciergerie. The same soldiers
who had conducted the prisoner to the cell
In the morning now accompanied the
governor ana ranged themselves on either
side of the prisoner, bidding him rise and
salute the bailiff Serrefort did so me-
chanically, shutting his eyes that ne might
not behold the dreadful sights which the
torches disclosed All his old spirit was
broken now; heheld his head erect nomore
one da Y i d the Bombec had made himan old
man.
"Sirs.' said he with sob in his voice,
Il beg you of your pity carry rue from this
place you see how | sutfer-ob, God knows
what my sufferings have heeni'
He stood before them sobning like q
child, fearf that they would leave him to
the silence of the pit again, TO the flowing
waters and the maddening darkness. At
any other time, his distress would have
been a fine subject for merriment to the
bailiff Hubert; but the man was dumb in
the presence of a stranger who did not
conceal his sympathy nor hesitate toutterit.
.''you are Jacques de serrefort, believe,
sent to this place now fifteen years ago
for threatening to kill the Countof Chateau
neuf. Is that so?'
Serrefort raised his head quickly at
the mention Of his crime His shoulders
Were squared again; he stood before them
erect and fearless as he had stood before
his officersn the old days.
Monsieur he said, lit is quite true
that L am the jacques de Serrefort you
name. Yet whether it were crime or no
which sent me to this place, leave my
God to judge
"Inpudent fellow cried the hailiff, "I
will have you branded upon the face with
an iron"
The stranger who did not appear to love
the bailiff, hushed him with gesture OF
his hand.
Please to hold your tongue, monsieur.
cried he, with the air OF one accustomed
to command, lam here to interrogate the
prisoner, not to listen to your anger"
The bailiff bit his lip and scowled at
serrefort. 1t was with difficulty that
he turned smiling face to the stranger
at last and said as pleasantly az possi-
BILE.
Your pardon, Monsieur lie Comte. Yet
have care, beg Of you, how you deal
with this fellow, for he is very danger
ous.''
..I will be the Judge of that myself
said the man addressed as Count, and
then turning to Serrefort, he continued:
"Hark you, my friend, you are not to
deceive yourself with any hone that l am