I began rather to doubt whether some trick had not been intended, and suggested to my companions that we should be cautious.
“Have two English ladies and a gentleman been brought here?” asked Master Clough.
“We recognise in this place neither ladies nor gentlemen nor nationalities. If we have here any prisoners you may desire to see, we may perchance enable you to accomplish your wish, provided always that you satisfy my just demands for any trouble you may give me.”
Knowing well what the man meant, we bestowed on him a gold piece, having given a smaller one to the soldier, who immediately took his departure. We described to the warder the prisoners we desired to see.
“I will speak first to the governor of the jail,” answered the man; “for myself, you will understand I can do nothing.”
I saw by the leer in his eyes that he knew pretty well that he had us in his power.
“Well,” I said, “we will not be ungrateful to the governor either, if he allows us to communicate with our friends.”
In a short time the man returned, saying that the governor would speak with us himself, and desired us to follow him. He showed the way upstairs, through several passages, to a room, where, before a well-spread board, at which stood several flagons of wine, we found that functionary, seated in a well-stuffed high-back chair, a large napkin being placed under his chin, and fastened over his shoulders. His height was not great, but his size was prodigious; his cheeks swelling out on either side, scarcely allowed his small grey eyes to be visible. A large dish was on the table, from which he appeared to have helped himself abundantly. We stood before him with our hats in our hands.
“You want to see some prisoners?” he asked, in a somewhat inarticulate voice. “You are all honest men. Well, then, to be frank with you, I should like to see the value you set on them.”
At this, without further ado, Master Clough placed several pieces of gold before the governor, who now smiled blandly.