As for the third person, he shall tell us his story himself, as it throws such an extraordinary light on the treatment of state prisoners at a period within a hundred years of our own.
FALCKENSKJOLD'S ABODE AT MUNKHOLM.
On June 12, 1772, Sevel, accompanied by the commandant of the marines and several officers, entered my prison and told me that the king stripped me of all my offices and the military order of Russia, and that I should be transported to a rock and be detained there for the rest of my days.
The crowd of people who entered with Sevel had so deafened me, that a portion of what he said escaped me.
I begged him to repeat how long I was to remain in detention.
For your whole life, he replied, with a grin which I fancy I can still see.
The commission had doubtless made a report. I requested the communication of it—it was refused me. I was promised a copy of my examination, but was unable to obtain it.
Thus I was deprived of every document that might one day be useful in proving my innocence.
On June 26, I was taken on board a merchant vessel the Admiralty had freighted in order to go to Munkholm, my place of destination; a sergeant and four grenadiers of Prince Frederick's regiment, chosen by Eickstedt, were ordered to guard me on board the vessel; two grenadiers with drawn sabres were to watch me and prevent me from speaking.