"That," responded the old man, "is impossible, since you ceased to be a soldier when you joined Batori Gabor. As a brigand you were captured, as a brigand you must suffer;" and he waved his hand, directing that I should be removed.
Back again in the lonely cell, my first feeling was one of relief that the period of suspense had ended.
I could no longer be tortured by swift alternations of hopes and fears. The worst had come, and with it a feeling of apathetic stupor.
But the next day, as I sat measuring off the hours by guess-work, a revulsion of feeling set in.
Life was sweet, and all the throbbing vigour of my youth protested hotly against this violent and disgraceful death.
Had it come when I charged with Görgei at the head of our cavalry, or when beside my noble-hearted brother I scaled the ramparts of Buda, the glow of patriotism, of devotion to my outraged country, would have removed half its terrors; but now, in this guise!
Then my thoughts turned to the faithful Mecsey; to John Rakoczy, my true and gallant friend, whom I should never again see; finally passing to the Austrian maiden, whose fair face had never faded from my memory.
Would she believe the untruths which Von Theyer would but too surely circulate?
I shuddered to think what terrible stories his fertile brain might invent when I was no longer able to give them the lie.
Yet, through it all, I never quite lost hope that the beautiful girl would keep her faith in my truth and honour; and this feeling sufficed to raise me from the slough of misery into which I was sinking.