back and the set of my clothes in a
mirror, and thrust a leg out in the manner of an exquisite. I had need
to do some mocking thing at the moment, or I should have given way to
tears like a woman, so suddenly weak had I become.

Gabord burst out laughing.

An idea came to me. "I must be fine to-morrow," said I. "I must not
shame my jailer." I rubbed my beard--I had none when I came into this
dungeon first.

"Aho!" said he, his eyes wheeling.

I knew he understood me. I did not speak, but went on running my fingers
through my beard.

"As vain as Absalom," he added. "Do you think they'll hang you by the
hair?"

"I'd have it off," said I, "to be clean for the sacrifice."

"You had Voban before," he rejoined; "we know what happened--a dainty
bit of a letter all rose-lily scented, and comfits for the soldier.
The pretty wren perches now in the Governor's house--a-cousining,
a-cousining. Think you it is that she may get a glimpse of m'sieu' the
dormouse as he comes to trial? But 'tis no business o' mine; and if I
bring my prisoner up when called for, there's duty done!"

I saw the friendly spirit in the words.

"Voban," urged I, "Voban may come to me?"

"The Intendant said no, but the Governor yes," was the reply; "and that
M'sieu' Doltaire is not yet come back from Montreal, so he had no voice.
They look for him here to-morrow."

"Voban may come?" I asked again.

"At daybreak Voban--aho!" he continued. "There's milk and honey
to-morrow," he added, and then, without a word, he drew forth from his
coat, and hurriedly thrust into my hands, a piece of meat and a small
flask of wine, and, swinging round like a schoolboy afraid of being
caught in a misdemeanor, he passed through the door and the bolts
clanged after him. He left the torch behind him, stuck in the cleft of
the wall.

I sat down on my couch, and for a moment gazed almost vacantly at the
meat and wine in my hands. I had not touched either for a year, and now
I could see that my fingers, as they closed on the food nervously, were
thin and bloodless, and I realized that my clothes hung loose upon my
person. Here were light, meat, and wine, and there was a piece of bread
on the board covering my water-jar. Luxury was spread before me,
but although I had eaten little all day I was not hungry. Presently,
however, I took the knife which I had hidden a year before, and cut
pieces of the meat and laid them by the bread. Then I drew the cork from
the bottle o