The prisoner replied, “Are we not friends both of us? If you do not let me go, who can save my life? Think over it a little and see. My wife, my children, my house, all I have, all my relations and friends being here, where shall I fly? If you set me at liberty for some moments not only will I not abscond but there will be found means for preserving my life safely. Do so.” As he thus besought him eagerly, the jailer, struck with compassion, could not do otherwise than let him go. So at midnight he presented himself before the door of the room where the governor slept, and thus addressed him. “Are you asleep? Is your excellency sleeping?” Hearing the sound and astonished at recognizing the voice of the officer who had been cast into prison and was to be executed in a short time, the governor asked. “Who are you?” “Your servant,” answered the officer. “A scoundrel who is at the point of being executed, how is it you are here?” “If I may be allowed to enter to salute you,” said the officer, “I have something particular to say to you.” “Oh, well, come in and speak.” The officer entering, approached, sat down, and said: “I pray your excellency to reflect and consider my purpose. If you put your servant to death this will be simply one man of means less in the world, and the money I owe will be lost to the government. What advantage will you thus derive? If, on the contrary, you preserve my life there will be one man more in the world, and I shall repay the whole of my debt to the government. Let me then live.” “If it ought to be so I wish you well in the matter.” “Your servant will come again, then, to-morrow, during the night, to see you.” “Do as you will.” The morrow during the night the officer presented himself anew and asked to be introduced. Approaching he made the prostrations before the governor, drew from his sleeve a packet which he undid and took out a sketch representing a human nose. He immediately besought the governor to please put his seal upon the sketch. Agreeing to the proposal the governor imposed his seal. The officer now associated three companions who were in the plot, and they all assembled upon the coast of the Eastern Sea, where they found a populous village, in the midst of which rose a high and grand mansion. Taking their drink of spirits at a hotel in the suburbs of the next village beyond, they prepared to sup. Addressing their host they put this question: “What is the name of the village which is just behind us? Whose is the largest house?” The inn-keeper answered, “That is the house of a very rich noble. Last year he received the degree of the doctorate and is eligible to fill very soon a very high position under the government.” The officer taking with him one of his comrades repaired to the mansion, where, as he noticed, everything showed abundant means, and thus spoke to the son. “As we have a secret affair to treat of, let us go into another room,” said the officer.