I once inquired of the one I spoke with in passing, whether she wanted
anything, and she replied, "Tell Jane Ray I want to see her a moment if
she can slip away." When I went up I took an opportunity to deliver my
message to Jane, who concerted with me a signal to be used in future,
in case a similar request should be made through me. This was a sly
wink at her with one eye, accompanied with a slight toss of my head.
She then sought an opportunity to visit the cellar, and was soon able
to hold an interview with the poor prisoners, without being noticed by
any one but myself. I afterward learnt that mad Jane Ray was not so
mad, but she could feel for those miserable beings, and carry through
measures for their comfort. She would often visit them with
sympathizing words, and, when necessary, conceal part of her food while
at table, and secretly convey it into their dungeons. Sometimes we
would combine for such an object; and I have repeatedly aided her in
thus obtaining a larger supply of food than they had been able to
obtain from others.
I frequently thought of the two nuns confined in the cells, and
occasionally heard something said about them, but very little. Whenever
I visited the cellar and thought it safe, I went up to the first of
them and spoke a word or two, and usually got some brief reply, without
ascertaining that any particular change took place with either of them.
The one with whom I ever conversed, spoke English perfectly well, and
French I thought as well. I supposed she must have been well educated,
for I could not tell which was her native language. I remember that she
frequently used these words when I wished to say more to her, and which
alone showed that she was constantly afraid of punishment: "Oh, there's
somebody coming--do go away!" I have been told that the other prisoner
also spoke English.
It was impossible for me to form any certain opinion about the size or
appearance of those two miserable creatures, for their cells were
perfectly dark, and I never caught the slightest glimpse even of their
faces. It is probable they were women not above the middle size, and my
reason for this presumption is the following: I was sometimes appointed
to lay out the clean clothes for all the nuns in the Convent on
Saturday evening, and was always directed to lay by two suits for the
prisoners. Particular orders were given to select the largest sized
garments for several tall nuns; but nothing of the kind was ever said
in relation to the clothes for those in the cells.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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