“My jailer was a cold, stern, unfeeling brute; but he was a brute by profession, and his disposition was his stock in trade. He had originally been a housebreaker, or a mean villain of some kind; and having betrayed his accomplices, he was rewarded by the miscreants whom he served, with a place of trust. For him bolts and bars seemed to have as much attraction as if he was a loadstone. His heart appeared only to throb in the shadow of the thick walls; and of no music could he be more fond than the clank of chains and the groans of the despairing prisoners. Him I cursed every time we met: but he had a daughter—a buxom, light-hearted little creature, whose eye was afloat in gladness, and whose breast was freighted with gentle and generous feelings; her olive complexion, azure eyes, and rich black curling hair, gave the most charming expression to her face. She saw me from a window when I was taking my solitary walk in the gloomy court-yard. My youthful appearance attracted her attention. She inquired my history, and as there was nothing in it of the dastard or the sneak—nothing she found ignoble or revolting, she felt an interest for me which every day grew more intense. She watched for the coming of the time when I was allowed to enjoy my daily walks with increased anxiety; and knowing that I was doomed to death, her eyes were filled with tears and her heart with tenderness whenever she saw me. I was ignorant of the feelings I had excited for several days after they had attained a power she found it impossible to resist; for as my execution approached, I strode the narrow court-yard, hemmed in by towering walls, with folded arms and eyes upon the ground, muttering imprecations upon the whole human race; and beheld not, and thought not of the kind creature that watched me so anxiously: but one dull day, the last my judges had allowed me in this world, I was engaged in making my accustomed perambulations, when I was roused from my melancholy reverie by seeing a stone fall at my feet I looked about me, but did not perceive whence it came. As I was continuing my cheerless round, another stone was thrown close to the place where I stood. I then made a more careful examination of the few windows by which I could be overlooked, and at one, about forty or fifty feet from the ground, I observed a female figure—whether she was young or handsome I could not exactly determine, because I was unable to distinguish her features, but I could have no doubt that she was an angel when I beheld the end of a strong rope slowly descend that was evidently falling from her hand. Before it was within reach, I had run to grasp it within my eager hands. Soon I clutched it firmly—I felt it was tightly fastened above; long experience in rope-climbing, and a desperate desire to escape at any hazard, in a few seconds carried me up to the open window, where I embraced my deliverer, whom I discovered to be just the sort of smart-looking little craft I have described.
“‘Pull up the rope,’ she said anxiously, ‘or you will be discovered.’
“I lost no time in hauling it into the room, where it was strongly fastened to the bedstead;—from this it was immediately made loose and stowed away into a box, and the window closed. The chamber in which I found myself was a small bed-room, possessing all the neatness and cleanliness in its appearance which distinguish the sleeping rooms of girls in the first flush of womanhood. Against the wall was a bed with linen of a pure white, enclosed in curtains of the same colour. At one end of the room a simple toilet was arranged; utensils for washing were standing in a corner—a row of books upon a little cabinet—a small vase with a few flowers, two or three chairs, and a table, composed the furniture.
“My arms were again round her waist, and I was showing my gratitude after a fashion I thought would be most agreeable, when she raised herself from my arms, smiling, blushing, and trembling, and fixing on me a look full of sincerity, purity, and affection, said:
“‘You may perhaps think me bold—over bold; but indeed I could not exist under the idea that you were about to lose your life. I was determined to make an effort to save you. I procured the rope from a manufactory attached to the prison in which those sentenced to hard labour are employed, and having well secured it here, watched my time to drop it within your reach. I knew that you were left alone for a short time, and I tried to attract your attention without exciting the suspicion of any one. Having provided every thing that was necessary, and seeing my opportunity, I endeavoured to make you look up—I coughed—I hemmed—but you did not move from your position. I then threw down a stone; you looked about you, and to my great disappointment and fear walked on without observing me. My heart seemed to sink when I thought the opportunity might be lost, and that on the morrow you would die. I again threw a stone, and felt the sweetest pleasure I have ever known when I saw that you observed me. Quickly and cautiously I let down the rope; but when I saw you ascend, and knew that the slightest slip would send you headlong against the hard stones so far beneath you, I trembled with fear. You are now safe, and I am rejoiced. But the greatest caution will be necessary, or your retreat will be discovered. By this time your escape is known, and an active search is being made for you in every direction. If you wish to retain your life you must do whatever I desire you. Ha!’ she exclaimed, as footsteps were heard approaching, ‘they come—get into that bed.’ I hesitated about soiling the sheets with my shoes. ‘In with you instantly—there’s not a moment to be lost.’
“While I snugly deposited myself under the bed-clothes, I observed her rapidly put on a night-gown over the dress she wore, and a cap upon her head, throw off her shoes, and whispering, ‘Lie still, if you value your life,’ she jumped into the bed, placed my head in her lap as she sat nearly upright leaning against the pillows, and arranged the clothes in such a manner that no one could imagine that the bed contained any one but herself.
“This had scarcely been done, before I heard the door open and some one walk into the room.
“‘Have you heard any one enter your window, Virgo?’ asked a gruff voice I readily recognised.
“‘My window, father!’ exclaimed my angel, in a tone of the utmost astonishment. ‘How is it possible any one can get near it?’
“‘Don’t know,’ replied the old man surlily. ‘But I left a prisoner a short time ago in the yard, to let him stretch his legs for the last time before we stretched his neck; I returned in a few minutes, and there was not a glimpse of him to be seen. I defy a cat to get up the wall. How he’s managed to gi’ me the slip I can’t guess, unless he jumped out o’ the keyhole, or flew in at one o’ the windows. But you haven’t heard no noise?’