writing. One, as a matter of courtesy, he gave into the hands of Messrs.
Strobik, Harmon, and Winpenny, to bear personally to Mr. Stener, as they
desired that he should. The other, on Steger's request, he gave to him.
The two committees which had called to receive them then departed; and
the afternoon of that same day saw Strobik, Harmon, and Winpenny arrive
in one group, and Steger, Wingate, and Walter Leigh in another, at the
prison gate, but at different hours.

Chapter LVIII

This matter of the pardon of Cowperwood, the exact time of it, was kept
a secret from him, though the fact that he was to be pardoned soon,
or that he had a very excellent chance of being, had not been
denied--rather had been made much of from time to time. Wingate had kept
him accurately informed as to the progress being made, as had Steger;
but when it was actually ascertained, from the Governor's private
secretary, that a certain day would see the pardon handed over to them,
Steger, Wingate, and Walter Leigh had agreed between themselves that
they would say nothing, taking Cowperwood by surprise. They even went so
far--that is, Steger and Wingate did--as to indicate to Cowperwood that
there was some hitch to the proceedings and that he might not now get
out so soon. Cowperwood was somewhat depressed, but properly stoical;
he assured himself that he could wait, and that he would be all right
sometime. He was rather surprised therefore, one Friday afternoon, to
see Wingate, Steger, and Leigh appear at his cell door, accompanied by
Warden Desmas.

The warden was quite pleased to think that Cowperwood should finally
be going out--he admired him so much--and decided to come along to
the cell, to see how he would take his liberation. On the way Desmas
commented on the fact that he had always been a model prisoner. "He kept
a little garden out there in that yard of his," he confided to Walter
Leigh. "He had violets and pansies and geraniums out there, and they did
very well, too."

Leigh smiled. It was like Cowperwood to be industrious and tasteful,
even in prison. Such a man could not be conquered. "A very remarkable
man, that," he remarked to Desmas.

"Very," replied the warden. "You can tell that by looking at him."

The four looked in through the barred door where he was working, without
being observed, having come up quite silently.

"Hard at it, Frank?" asked Steger.

Cowperwood glanced over his shoulder and got up. He ha