or, my comrades will
greet me joyfully, and the poor prisoner shall be the mighty commander
of the fortress. Only one night more, one single night of patience, and
life, and love, and the world shall again belong to me. Oh, I feel as if
I would go mad with joy. I have had strength to endure misfortunes, but
perhaps the rapture of freedom may be fatal. My God! my God! if I should
lose my senses! if the light of the sun should scorch my brain! if the
hum of the busy world should crush my spirit!"

He lifted his hands in terror to his brow; he felt as if wrapped in
flames, as if fire were rising from his brain; the chains rattled around
him with unearthly sounds. "The slightest error, the least forgetfulness
would endanger my plan. I will be quiet--I will repeat once more all
that we have agreed upon. But first away with these slavish chains,
to-morrow I shall be a free man; I will commence my role to-day."

He removed the handcuffs, and with his free right hand loosened the
girdle from his waist, at the point where the blacksmith, who fastened
it upon him, told him it might be opened by a pressure light as a
feather. Now he was free; he stretched with delight his thin, meagre
form, and let his arms swing in the air as if to prove their muscle.

This was a sweet, a wonderful prelude to freedom; many weeks and months
he had worked upon these chains to prepare for the moment of freedom.
Now these chains had fallen. He was already a free man; he cared not
for these dark, damp walls. He did not see them; he was already without,
where the sun was shining, the birds were singing; where the blue arch
of heaven looked down upon the blooming earth. What did he care for the
death-like stillness which surrounded him? he heard the noise in the
streets; he saw men running here and there in busy haste; he listened
to their bright conversation, their merry laughter; he mixed among them
with lively greeting, and shared their joys and cares.

Suddenly he again pressed his brow fearfully, and cried; "I shall go
mad! A thousand dancing pictures and happy faces are swarming around
me; I shall go mad! But no, I will control myself; I will be calm." He
raised his head with his accustomed bold defiance. "I will look freedom
in the face; my eyelids shall not quiver and my heart shall beat calmly.
I will be quiet and thoughtful. I will think it all over once more.
Listen to me, oh friend! you, who have heard all my sighs and my
despair; you, wh