the opposite side, for the beam would have
rendered the passage too narrow for me to pass
through. I increased it, therefore, a full quarter,
agitated between hope and fear, lest there
might not, after all, be room enough between
this beam and another; but by means of a
second small orifice, I ascertained that my work
had prospered. I then carefully stopped up both
peep-holes, in order that nothing might fall
through, or suffer the rays from my lamp to be
seen from below, and fixed the period for my
escape on the eve of St. Augustine, because I
knew that on the occasion of that festival, the
grand council assembled, and no one,
consequently, would be in La Bussola, which was
contiguous to the chamber I must necessarily cross
in escaping. The 27th of August, was, therefore,
to be the night of my attempt, but on the
25th a misfortune befel me, at the recollection
of which I still shudder, though many years
have since gone by. Precisely at mid-day, I
was sitting in my cell, when I heard the noise
of the bolts, and was straightway seized with
such a violent beating of the heart, that I thought
my last moment was come. I fell back
helplessly in my arm-chair, and waited in a state of
fearful expectation. As he crossed the ante-
chamber, Lorenzo put his face close to the
grating, and shouted, in a joyful tone,

"I wish you joy, sir, at the good news I
bring you."

Thinking that I was to be set at liberty, I
trembled, for I felt assured that the discovery
of the hole I had made would cause the revocation
of my pardon. Lorenzo presently opened
the door and desired me to follow him.

"Wait," I said, " until I am dressed."

"What does that matter?" he replied, "you
are only going to pass from this villanous hole
to a clean new cell, with two windows in it, at
which you may stand upright and see half over
Venice."

I thought I should have sunk to the ground.
"Give me some vinegar," I said, "and go and
tell the secretary I thank the tribunal for their
kindness, but I beg they will let me remain
where I am."

"You make me laugh, sir," he returned.
"Are you mad? They offer to take you out of
this hell and put you in paradise, and you refuse
to go? Come, come, you must obey. Get up!
Take my arm. I will send your clothes and
books after you."

Seeing that resistance was useless, I rose,
and it was with a great sense of relief I heard
him order the archer-servant to carry my
armchair, for my spontoon would then follow me,
and hope with it. How I wished I could have
carried off the hole I had made in the floor, the
object of all my trouble and sacrificed desires!
I may truly say that, on leaving this horrible
abode of grief, my whole soul remained behind.
Leaning on Lorenzo, who with his heavy jokes
endeavoured to restore my gaiety, I passed
through two narrow corridors, and, after
descending three steps, entered into a well-lighted
hall, at the further extremity of which, turning
to the left, he led me by a small door into
another corridor only two feet wide and about
twelve feet long, in a corner of which was my
new prison. It contained a grated window,
facing two other windows, also barred, which
gave light to the corridor, and through them the
view extended across the grand canal as far as
the Lido; but I had no heart to rejoice in
the scene, nor did I gaze on it. I threw
myself into my chair, and waited for the
denoûment of the drama, of which Lorenzo, who
left me to fetch my bed and clothing, was the
Fate. Immovable as a statue, there I sat,
expecting the storm to burst, but fearing it not a
jot. What caused my stupor was the
overwhelming idea that I had taken so much pains
for nothing; yet I experienced neither regret
nor repentance, and I compelled myself not to
think of the future, as my only consolation. I
was in this state of mind when two sbirri came
with my bed. They went out for the rest of my
things, and more than two hours elapsed before
I saw any one again, though the door of my new
cell was left open. This delay, which was not
natural, awakened in me a crowd of thoughts,
but I could fix none of them. I only knew that
I had everything to fear, and this certainty made
me employ every effort to tranquillise myself
sufficiently to resist the evils with which I was
threatened.

Besides the Piombi and the Quattri, the
Inquisitors of State have at their command
nineteen other frightful dungeons underground in
the same ducal palace, destined for those
unhappy beings whom they do not condemn to
death, though their crimes may perhaps have
deserved that punishment. These subterranean
prisons perfectly resemble tombs; but they are
called "The Wells" (I Pozzi), because there
are always two feet of water in them, the sea
penetrating through the grating—only a foot
square!—which gives them light. Unless the
miserable wretch who tenants this vile den
chooses to take a salt-water bath, he is obliged
to remain all day seated on a trestle, on which
his mattress is spread, which serves him also
for a cupboard. In the morning he receives a
pitcher of water, a little bad soup, and a piece
of ammunition bread, which he is obliged to eat
at once lest it should become the prey of the
horrible creatures that infest these wells.
Generally those who are confined in these places
end their days here, and some have been known
to attain a great age.

After two mortal hours' suspense Lorenzo
made his appearance, his features disfigured
by anger, foaming with rage, and blaspheming
Heaven and all the saints. He began
by ordering me to give up the hatchet and
tools with which I had destroyed the flooring,
and to tell him which of the sbirri had
supplied me with them. I answered, without
stirring, and as coolly as I could, that I did not
know what he was talking about. On this reply,
he ordered me to be searched; but rising with,
a resolute air, I threatened the rascal, and
taking off my only garment, I told them to