"You are right in what you say of our illustrious sovereign; he is, indeed, gracious. You soon found means, it seems, of advising the Kaiser of your situation. I admire your promptness! The Emperor did not lose time either; yesterday, early, I had his despatch in my hands." Ráby's cheeks grew red with indignation. "And why, then, in spite of this, was I yesterday afternoon cast into a far worse dungeon than the one I was taken from--a cold, dark hole, where I fainted." "Yes, I know all about it. But I suppose you know what happened to the Emperor's letter?" And his Excellency brought out of his pocket, the imperial missive, with its great seal still unbroken, and held it out to the prisoner. "You have not even opened it!" "No, nor are any of them opened when they arrive. And I tell you plainly, that all you write to the Emperor from here avails nothing. If you have anything to quote from the Hungarian laws in your defence, do it, and justify yourself. But every effort to act independently of those same laws is worse than useless. It means only lost time and trouble, and only rivets your fetters more closely. But at any rate your captivity is bearable." Ráby shook his head, and as the door closed on his guest, he buried his face in his hands. CHAPTER XXX. One morning there was an unwonted stir in "Number 3" cell. Some women came in to scour the room and fleck away the cobwebs. Moreover, they placed a fine silken coverlet over the second bed, and the warder came and fixed a nail in the wall. A new prisoner was expected, they said. Ráby was naturally curious to see what his room mate would be like; nor had he long to wait. About eleven of the clock, arrived the expected captive; they could hear him talking as he came along the corridor, and noted how the gaoler kissed his hand respectfully, as he opened the door ceremoniously for him. It seemed to Ráby as if he had seen his face somewhere before, but he could not remember where. The new-comer had his hair carefully powdered and dressed in the fashionable cue, and he wore his rather fierce-looking moustachios stiffened in the Turkish fashion. His dress was, however, distinctly Hungarian, for his green coat, variegated hose, and gold-laced boots were all in the prevailing Magyar mode. The heydukes who accompanied him all seemed at his service. One drew out his pipe from a large leathern case, a second handed him his snuff-box, a third his pocket-handkerchief, whilst yet another spread a bearskin by the side of his bed, and set out bottles and boxes of cosmetics in a row. The stranger appeared quite oblivious of the presence of another person in the room, and comported himself as if the whole Assembly House had belonged to him. The worthy Janosics evidently thought it time to repeat his instructions to the captive, so that he might recognise his limitations. "May it please your worship, the prisoners are forbidden to smoke," he said obsequiously.