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a subject to discuss, and, while he was engaged in talking, Hubert put his prepared chesnuts at the bottom of the basket, and covering them over with apples and bread, he gave the basket into the hand of Pierre, without feeling the least alarm that he should examine it-he was at all times too idle to do more than he was ordered.

From this time the days passed on with Hubert, unmarked by any event, till Madame Xavia paid the debt of life, and he was again sent into the burying-ground, to open the family vault, for the reception of her body; his friend, Pierre, assisted him in carrying his tools to the spot, and in the way thither informed him, that the vault was immediately beneath the prison where the lady Belise's lover, and the young Englishman, were confined.

Possessed of this knowledge, Hubert resolved to use every moment of the night, which he could spare from the labour he was employed on, in endeavouring to make himself heard by Edward, in his

prison above him; to this purpose he repeatedly called on him by name, but as he received no answer to his calls, he concluded, that the stone which parted them was impenetrable to his voice, and therefore began to seek some other method of making himself heard. The roof of the burying-place was within the reach of his mattock, and he struck various parts with the iron end of it, hoping that some of the knocks would reach the ear of Edward; but his endeavours proved fruitless, and he was compelled to complete his task, and leave the spot, where he felt a pleasure in lingering, on account of its proximity to Edward.

On returning to the kitchen, he was surprised to find Pierre, who had promised to sit up for him till he came back from the vault, was not there.

During the time that Hubert had been employed in opening the vault, the governor and Belise had repaired, at mid-: night, to the chapel, to say a requiem for M. 6

the

the rest of Madame Xavia's soul; and on the governor's return to his chamber, he found his money-box broke open, and robbed; nor was this all-his master-key to the various locks in the building, which was usually hung at the head of his bed, was also gone. An immediate search was made after the thief-Pierre alone was missing, and, as he did not return in the course of the succeeding day, no doubt was entertained of his being the purloiner of the governor's gold.

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A reward was offered by the governor for his apprehension; but it proved ineffectual, as Pierre was never heard of after.

Pierre's flight was at first a circumstance on which Hubert by no means reflected with pleasure; he had been the only one in the prison whom he had found ready in his communications, and he feared that his absence would deprive him of gaining any intelligence relative to Edward. While Hubert was wondering whether the new

keeper

keeper would prove a man from whom he might reap equal advantage as he had done from the familiar disposition of Pierre, he was surprised with the information that he was himself promoted to the station.

Hubert received the intelligence with warm but concealed joy; he now believed that he should enjoy the privilege of waiting upon Edward, and thus easily gain an opportunity of conversing with him; but in this hope he was disappointed. The keeper who had heretofore watched over the prison of Edward in the evening, was appointed to attend upon it entirely; and Hubert was deputed to serve two solitary captives, whose apartments were at one end of the stone passage, the other extremity of which led to the prison of the two friends.

CHAP

CHAP. XII.

BLIOT

OD

AN

Oh! 'tis excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous

To use it like a giant.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

ON the eleventh day after the interment of the governor's wife, a stranger arrived at the prison about the hour of noon, who was for some time shut up with the governor in his private apartment, and then departed.

In the evening, the governor, which was by no means usual with him, went out himself, saying, that he was going to

meet

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