nd though he
might have been tried for his rebellion, he was just treated as a man
already sentenced to death. On the morning of his execution, he said,
_I have more joy and comfort this day than the day after I escaped out
of the Castle_. He then wrote some letters, and took his dinner as
cheerfully as usual. After dinner, as his custom was, he lay down to
rest for a little, and slept for a quarter of an hour as sweetly and
pleasantly as he had ever done. While he was asleep, an officer of
state, who had been one of his chief enemies, came to the Castle to see
him, with a message from the Council. He was told that Argyll was
asleep, and was not to be disturbed. When he refused to believe this
the gaoler softly opened the door and allowed him to look into the
cell. As soon as he saw the Earl sleeping he turned without a word,
and ran out of the Castle into a friend's house near by. He was so
agitated that the lady of the house thought he was ill and offered him
wine. But he declined it, with these words, _I have been in at Argyll,
and saw him sleeping as pleasantly as ever a man did, within an hour of
eternity: but as for me_--and then he could say no more.

Argyll's place of imprisonment may still be seen in Edinburgh Castle.
In Mr. Ward's picture his bed-chamber is before you. Its thick walls,
its bare floor, and its heavy vaulted roof are all of stone. Through
an open door you look into another room where you see the table at
which he has just dined. It is covered with a white cloth, on which
are the remains of the dinner, and you notice that the wine-glass that
stands beside the flagon has not been emptied. In the nearer room the
Earl is lying on the prison bed in his ordinary clothes. He wears a
suit of black velvet, with a collar of lace at the neck, and full cuffs
of white linen at the wrists. His boots have not been removed, and he
is stretched out only as comfortably as his fetters will allow. His
head rests on a great white pillow, and his brown hair falls smoothly
from beneath his black velvet cap. A newly written letter has fallen
from his hand to the floor. You can read the signature, _Argyll_, and
the date, _1685_. On a chair at the head of the bed there is a large
Bible, and beside it lies an old-fashioned watch, with its hand moving
slowly round to the hour of execution. The light from a little window
falls on the sleeping prisoner's face, which is fresh coloured and full
of peace, wi