" said Mr. Bradlaugh, brusquely, "you need not send anything to Mr.
Wheeler; he's gone insane."

"What!" I gasped. The room darkened to my vision as though the sun had
been blotted out. The blow went to my heart like a dagger.

"Come," said Mr. Bradlaugh in a kinder tone, "if you take the news in
that way I shall tell you no more."

"It is over," I answered. "Pray go on."

I crushed down my feelings, but it was not over. Mr. Bradlaugh did not
know the nature of my friendship with Mr. Wheeler; how old and deep it
was, how inwrought with the roots of my being. When I returned to my
cell I went through my agony and bloody sweat. I know not how long it
lasted. For awhile I stood like a stone image; anon I paced up and down
like a caged tiger. One word burned like a lurid sun through a bloody
mist. Mad! The school-master called on business. "Don't speak," I said.
He cast a frightened look at my face and retired. At length relief came.
The thunder-cloud of grief poured itself in a torrent of tears, the only
ones my persecutors ever wrung from me. Over the flood of sorrow rose
the rainbow of hope. He is only broken down, I thought; his delicate
organisation has succumbed to a trial too great for its strength; rest
and generous attention will restore him. Courage! All will be well.

And all is well. My friend is by my side again. He had relapses after
his first recovery, for it was an awful blow; but I was in time to
shield him from the worst of these. Scientific treatment, and a long
stay at the seaside, renovated his frame. He has worked with me daily
since at our old task, and I trust we shall labor together till there
comes "The poppied sleep, the end of all."

I spent the next few days in preparing a new defence for my third trial
for Blasphemy. During that time I was allowed an interview with two
friends every afternoon. Mrs. Besant was one of my earliest visitors. I
learned that the _Freethinker_ was still appearing under the editorship
of Dr. E. B. Aveling, who conducted it until my release; and that the
business affairs of Mr. Ramsey and myself were being ably and vigilantly
superintended by a committee consisting of Mrs. Besant, and Messrs. R.
O. Smith, A. Hilditch, J. Grout, G. Standring and C. Herbert. There was,
in addition, a Prisoners' Aid Fund opened and liberally subscribed to,
out of which our wives and families were provided for.

On the morning of April 10, soon after breakfast, and while the
prisoner