that my family may not be disgraced by my ignominious death, or be aware
that I have perished on the scaffold."

"Perhaps you are right," replied the priest; "but let us talk upon
another point; have you no friends that could exert themselves in your
favour so as to procure your pardon and release?"

"None," replied I, "except those who, I am sure, are exerting themselves
to the utmost of their power, and to whom no message from me is
necessary."

"Do you know nobody at court," said the priest, "no person of rank in
the government--or I may say opposed to the government--for people
now-a-days are not what they seem or pretend to be?"

"I have no knowledge of any titled person," replied I; "when I parted
with one of the gentlemen whom I landed at Bordeaux he gave me the name
of a lady of quality at Paris, desiring me, if in difficulty, to apply
to him through her; but that was if in difficulty in France; of course
she could do nothing for me in this country."

"Have you the name of the lady?"

"Yes," replied I; "it is on the first leaf of my pocket-book. Here it
is."

The priest read the name, and then said--

"You must write immediately a few words, acquainting her with your
position. I will see the letter safely delivered before the week is
over."

"What good can she possibly do me?" replied I.

"I cannot say; but this I know, that if anything is to be done, it will
be. Write immediately."

The priest called the gaoler and requested writing materials, which were
brought, and in a few minutes I had done as he requested.

"There, Sir, I have written to please you; but I candidly state that I
consider it a useless attempt."

"Were I of your opinion, I should not have advised you to write,"
replied he. "There are wheels within wheels that you have no conception
of; in these troubled times. What I most fear is that it may arrive too
late."

The priest took his leave of me, and I was left to my own thoughts.
When I considered that the address of this lady had been given to me by
the very man whom they were so anxious to secure as a traitor, I at once
decided that no benefit could arrive from any interference on her part;
and I therefore, after a quarter of an hour, dismissed the whole subject
from my thoughts, and commenced my reading of the sacred writings. The
following morning, when the gaoler came in, I could not help observing
to him, that as I had been condemned so many days I felt much surpri