Whilst I vacillated on my chair as though asleep, the old man continued speaking,--at least, so it appeared to me, for I think I remember seeing his lips move, and his hand raised. The door was opened again; the noise of the lock roused me from my reverie, and the Priest from his discourse. A person dressed in black entered, accompanied by the Governor of the prison, and bowed profoundly to me; he carried a roll of paper. “Sir,” said he, with a courteous smile, “I have the honour to bring you a message from the Attorney-General.” The first agitation was over; all my presence of mind returned, and I answered in a firm tone, “Read on, Sir.” He then read a long, technically-expressed paper, the purport of which was the rejection of my plea. “The execution will be to-day,” added he; “we shall leave this for the Conciergerie Prison at half-past seven. My dear Sir, will you have the extreme goodness to accompany me at that hour?” For some instants I had no longer listened to him; for while his eyes were fixed on the paper the Governor was occupied talking to the Priest; and I looked at the door which they had left half open!... Ah, hapless me! Four sentinels in the corridor. Again I was asked when I would be ready to go. “When you please,” I said; “at your own time.” “I shall have the honour of coming for you, then, in half an hour,” said he, bowing; and all the party withdrew. Oh, for some means of escaping! Good heavens! any means whatever! I _must_ make my escape! I must! Immediately! By the doors, by the windows, by the roof! Even though in the struggle I should destroy myself! Oh, rage! demons! malediction! It would take months to pierce this wall with efficient tools. And I have not one nail, nor one hour! TWENTY-FIRST PAPER. CONCIERGERIE PRISON. Here I am transferred, then. Let me record the details. At half-past seven the messenger again presented himself at the threshold of my dungeon. “Sir,” said he, “I wait for you.” Alas! and I saw that four others did the same! I rose, and advanced one step. It appeared to me I could not make a second. My head was so heavy, and my limbs so feeble; but I made an effort to conquer my weakness, and assumed an appearance of firmness. Prior to leaving the cell, I gave it a final look; I had almost become attached to it. Besides, I left it empty and open, which gives so strange an appearance to a dungeon. It will not be long untenanted. The turnkeys said they expected some one this evening,--a prisoner who was then being tried at the Court of Assizes. At the turn of the corridor the Chaplain rejoined us; he had just breakfasted. At the threshold of the gaol, the Governor took me by the hand; he had reinforced my escort by four veterans. By the door of the Infirmary a dying old man exclaimed, “Good bye, we shall soon meet again!”