between them; and, swaddled in their rugs, I
passed the night miserably. The hard boards,
and the vermin, effectually broke my slumbers.

The morning came. The rules of the prison
required that we should all rise at six, roll up
the rugs, lay them at the heads of our beds,
and sweep out the room. Weary and sore, I
paced the prison while these things were done.
Even the morning ablution was comfortless
and distressing; a pocket-handkerchief serving
but indifferently for a towel.

Restless activity now took full possession of
the prisoners. There was not the combined
shouting or singing of the previous day; but
there was independent action, which broke
out in various ways. Hunger had roused
them; the prison allowance is one meal a
day; and although, by husbanding the supply,
some few might eke it out into several
repasts, the majority had no such control over
their appetite. Tall, gaunt lads, just starting
into men, went roaming about with wild
eyes, purposeless, pipkin in hand, although
hours must elapse before the meal would
come. Caged beasts pace their narrow prisons
with the same uniform and unvarying motion.

At last eleven o'clock came. The barred
door opened, and swiftly, yet with a terrible
restraint—knowing that the least disorder
would cost them a day's dinner—the
prisoners mounted the stone steps, and passed
slowly, in single file, before two enormous
caldrons. A cook, provided with a long
ladle, stood by the side of each; and, with a
dexterous plunge and a twist, a portion of
porridge and a small block of beef were fished
up and dashed into the pipkin extended by
each prisoner. Another official stood ready
with the flat loaves. In a very short time,
the whole of the prisoners were served.

Hunger seasoned the mess; and I was
sitting on the bedstead-end enjoying it, when
the police-soldier appeared on the threshold,
calling me by name.

"You must leave—instantly."

"I am ready," I said, starting up.

"Have you a rug?"

"No."

I hurried out into the dark passage. I
was conducted to the left; another heavy
door was loosened, and I was thrust into a
gloomy cell, bewildered, and almost speechless
with alarm. I was not alone. Some
half-dozen melancholy wretches crouching in
one corner, were disturbed by my entrance;
but half-an-hour had scarcely elapsed, when
the police-soldier again appeared, and I was
hurried out. We proceeded through the
passage by which I had first entered. In my
way past the nest of pigeon-holes "up above,"
some—only a few—of my valuables were
restored to me. Presently a single police-soldier
led me into the open street.

The beautiful air and sunshine! how I
enjoyed them as we passed through the heart
of the city. Bei'm Magistrat, at the corner
of the Kohlmarket, was our destination. We
entered its porticoed door, ascended the stone
stairs, and went into a small office, where the
most repulsive-looking official I have
anywhere seen, noted my arrival in a book.
Thence we passed into another pigeon-holed
chamber; where I delivered up my little
property, as before, "for its security." A few
minutes more, and I was safely locked in a
small chamber, having one window darkened
by a wooden blind. My companions were a
few boys, a courier—who, to my surprise,
addressed me in English—and a man with
blazing red hair.

In this place, I passed four days, occupied
by what I suppose I may designate "my
trial." The first day was enlivened by a
violent attack which the jailer made upon the
red-headed man for looking out of window. He
seized the fiery locks, and beat their owner's
head against the wall. I had to submit that
day to a degrading medical examination.

On the second day I was called to appear
before the "Rath," or counsel. The process
of examination is curious. It is considered
necessary to the complete elucidation of a
case, that the whole life and parentage of the
accused should be made known; and I was
thus exposed to a series of questions which I
had never anticipated:—The names and
countries of both my parents; their station;
the ages, names, and birthplaces of my
brothers and sisters; my own babyhood,
education, subsequent behaviour, and adventures;
my own account, with the minutest details of
the offence I had committed. It was more like
a private conference than an examination. The
Rath was alone—with the exception of his
secretary, who diligently recorded my answers.
While being thus perseveringly catechised,
the Rath sauntered up and down; putting his
interminable questions in a friendly chatty
way, as though he were taking a kindly
interest in my history, rather than pursuing a
judicial investigation. When the examination
was concluded, the secretary read over every
word to me, and I confirmed the report with
my signature.

The Rath promised to do what he could for
me; and I was then surprised and pleased by
the entrance of my employer. The Rath
recommended him to write to the English Embassy
in my behalf, and allowed him to send me
outer clothing better suited to the interior of
a prison than the best clothes I had donned
to spend the holiday in.

I went back to my cell with a lightened
heart. I was, however, a little disconcerted
on my return by the courier, who related
an anecdote of a groom, of his acquaintance,
who had persisted in smoking a cigar
while passing a sentinel; and who, in
punishment therefor, had been beaten by a
number of soldiers, with willow rods; and
whose yells of pain had been heard far
beyond the prison walls. What an anticipation!
Was I to be similarly served? I
thought it rather a suspicious circumstance