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They halted for a hts He looked around; he was in a court surrounded by high walls; he heard the ht he saw the barrels of their muskets shine

They waited upwards of ten endar orders The orders came

"Where is the prisoner?" said a voice

"Here," replied the gendarmes

"Let hiendaruide, who led hi walls seenated with tears; a lamp placed on a stool illumined the apartment faintly, and showed Dantes the features of his conductor, an under-jailer, ill-clothed, and of sullen appearance

"Here is your chaovernor is asleep To-e you In the meantime there is bread, water, and fresh straw; and that is all a prisoner can wish for Goodnight" And before Dantes could open his mouth--before he had noticed where the jailer placed his bread or the water--before he had glanced towards the corner where the straas, the jailer disappeared, taking with hi stamped upon the prisoner's eon

Dantes was alone in darkness and in silence--cold as the shadows that he felt breathe on his burning forehead With the first dawn of day the jailer returned, with orders to leave Dantes where he was He found the prisoner in the sa He had passed the night standing, and without sleep The jailer advanced; Dantes appeared not to perceive him He touched him on the shoulder Edmond started

"Have you not slept?" said the jailer

"I do not know," replied Dantes The jailer stared

"Are you hungry?" continued he

"I do not know"

"Do you wish for anything?"

"I wish to see the governor" The jailer shrugged his shoulders and left the chamber

Dantes followed him with his eyes, and stretched forth his hands towards the open door; but the door closed All his eround, weeping bitterly, and asking himself what crime he had committed that he was thus punished

The day passed thus; he scarcely tasted food, but walked round and round the cell like a wild beast in its cage One thought in particular tor his journey hither he had sat so still, whereas he ed into the sea, and, thanks to his powers of swiained the shore, concealed himself until the arrival of a Genoese or Spanish vessel, escaped to Spain or Italy, where Mercedes and his father could have joined hiood seamen are welcome everywhere He spoke Italian like a Tuscan, and Spanish like a Castilian; he would have been free, and happy with Mercedes and his father, whereas he was now confined in the Chateau d'If, that inorant of the future destiny of his father and Mercedes; and all this because he had trusted to Villefort's pro, and Dantes threw hi at the saain