Let us see the dungeons." "Let us first send for two soldiers," said the governor.

"The prisoners sometimes, through mere uneasiness of life, and in order to be sentenced to death, commit acts of useless violence, and you might fall a victim." "Take all needful precautions," replied the inspector.
Two soldiers were accordingly sent for, and the inspector descended a stairway, so foul, so humid, so dark, as to be loathsome to sight, smell, and respiration.
"Oh," cried the inspector, "who can live here ?" "A most dangerous conspirator, a man we are ordered to keep the most strict watch over, as he is daring and resolute." "He is alone ?" "Certainly." "How long has he been there ?" "Nearly a year." "Was he placed here when he first arrived ?" "No; not until he attempted to kill the turnkey, who took his food to him." "To kill the turnkey ?" "Yes, the very one who is lighting us.

Is it not true, Antoine ?" asked the governor.
"True enough; he wanted to kill me!" returned the turnkey.
"He must be mad," said the inspector.
"He is worse than that,--he is a devil!" returned the turnkey.
"Shall I complain of him ?" demanded the inspector.
"Oh, no; it is useless.

Besides, he is almost mad now, and in another year he will be quite so." "So much the better for him,--he will suffer less," said the inspector.
He was, as this remark shows, a man full of philanthropy, and in every way fit for his office.
"You are right, sir," replied the governor; "and this remark proves that you have deeply considered the subject.

Now we have in a dungeon about twenty feet distant, and to which you descend by another stair, an abbe, formerly leader of a party in Italy, who has been here since 1811, and in 1813 he went mad, and the change is astonishing.