For some time after his arrival at the Bastile, every thing seems to have been studiously contrived to shock a prisoner’s habits, insulate him from the human race, and deliver him up to squalid wretchedness and distracting thoughts. The manifest purpose of this was, to break his courage, and thereby induce him to make such confessions as would answer the ends of his persecutors. It was not till after he had undergone a second examination that he was allowed to be shaved; and months often elapsed before this favour was granted. Neither was he permitted to have books, pens, or paper, nor to attend mass, nor to walk in the court. He could not even write to the lieutenant of police, through whom alone any indulgence was to be obtained. The sight of the turnkey, for a few moments, thrice a day, was the sole link which connected him with his fellow beings. Every stratagem which cunning could devise was put in practice to entrap a prisoner into an avowal of guilt, the betraying of his suspected friends, or, failing these, into such contradictions as might give a colour for refusing to believe him innocent. Threats, too, were not spared, nor even flatteries and promises. At one moment, papers were shown to him, but not put into his hands, which his examiners affirmed to contain decisive proof of his criminality; at another, he was told that his accomplices had divulged the whole, and that his obstinate silence would subject him to be tried by a special commission, while, on the contrary, if he would speak out frankly he should be speedily liberated. He who was seduced by this artifice was sure to repent of his folly. When the irrevocable words had passed his lips, he was informed that the power of his deluders did not extend to setting him free, but that they would exert all their influence, and hoped to succeed. It is scarcely necessary to say, that there was not a syllable of truth in their assurances, and that he who had confided in them was treated with increased severity. It was not only in official examinations that the captive was exposed to be thus circumstanced; the same system was pursued throughout. There was no one who approached him to whom he could venture to breathe a whisper of complaint. If he was visited by the lieutenant of police, the sole aim of the lieutenant was to draw forth something which might be turned against him. If he was allowed to be attended by one of the invalids, the attendant treasured up for his masters every word that was dropped. Sometimes, apparently as a matter of grace and kindness, a companion, said to be a fellow sufferer, was given to him; the companion was a police spy, who was withdrawn when he had wormed out the secret, or had become convinced that it was unattainable. To listen to that which seemed the voice of pity was dangerous; for the turnkeys and other officers, enjoined though they were to be mute on other occasions, had their tongues let loose for fraudulent ends, and were taught to lure the