7
soundly, that the unlocking and opening of those
ponderous portals were affected without waking
him ? He would have said this was not possible,
but that in doing so, he must admit a greater
difficulty, on entrance by other means, of which he
was convinced there existed none. It was not
intended, then, that he should be left to perish
from hunger. But the secret and mysterious mode
of supplying him with food, seemed to indicate he
was to have no opportunity of communicating with
a human being.
The other circumstance which had attracted his
notice, was the disappearance, as he believed, of
one of the seven grated windows that ran along the
top of his prison. He felt confident that he had
observed and counted them; for he was rather
surprised at their number, and there was something
peculiar in their form, as well as in the manner of
their arrangement, at equal distances It was so
much easier, however, to suppose he was mistaken,
than that a portion of the solid iron, which formed
the walls, could have escaped from its position,
that he soon dismissed the thought from his
mind.
Vivenzio partook of the food that was before
him, without apprehension. It might be poisoned ;
but if it were, he knew he could not escape death,
should such be the design of Tolfi; and the quickest
death would be the speediest release.
The day passed wearily and gloomily ; though
not without a faint hope that, by keeping watch at
night, he might observe when the person came again
to bring him food, which he supposed he would do
in the same way as before. The mere thought of
being approached by a living creature, and the opportunity
it might present of learning the doom