"At noon."
The visitor fixed his eyes strangely upon the prisoner.
"Very good; if I may be allowed to trespass again, I should like to see how this fellow bears himself in the yard amongst his fellow-criminals."
"By all means."
"I'll come, then, at noon."
* * * * *
At noon next day the German traveller was as good as his word.
The governor, full of his wonted courtesy, accompanied him to the yard, where all the prisoners were walking round two and two.
Some of the more desperate men were fastened by a single handcuff to the wrist of another man—a warder.
Of this category was the brigand Mathias.