"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.