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sleep in that very position.
Some hours afterwards, as I conjectured, I seemed in part to awake,
but no sooner had I stretched my weary limbs upon my rude couch than
I slept till the dawn of day. The same disposition to somnolency
continued through the day, and the next night, I rested as soundly
as before. What was the sort of crisis that had thus taken place?
I know not; but I was perfectly restored.
CHAPTER XLVII.
The sickness of the stomach which I had so long laboured under now
ceased, the pains of the head also left me, and I felt an
extraordinary appetite. My digestion was good, and I gained
strength. Wonderful providence! that deprived me of my health to
humble my mind, and again restored it when the moment was at hand
that I should require it all, that I might not sink under the weight
of my sentence.
On the 24th of November, one of our companions, Dr. Foresti, was
taken from the Piombi, and transported no one knew whither. The
jailer, his wife, and the assistants, were alike alarmed, and not
one of them ventured to throw the least light upon this mysterious
affair.
"And why should you persist," said Tremerello, "in wishing to know,
when nothing good is to be heard? I have told you too much--too
much already."
"Then what is the use of trying to hide it? I know it too well. He
is condemned to death."
"Who? . . . he . . . Doctor Foresti?"
Tremerello hesitated, but the love of gossip was not the least of
his virtues.
"Don't say, then," he resumed, "that I am a babbler; I never wished
to say a word about these matters; so, remember, it is you who
compel me."
"Yes, yes, I do compel you; but courage! tell me every thing you
know respecting the poor Doctor?"
"Ah, Sir! they have made him cross the Bridge of Sighs! he lies in
the dungeons of the condemned; sentence of death has been announced
to him and two others."
"And will it be executed? When? Oh, unhappy man! and what are the
others' names?"
"I know no more. The sentences have not been published. It is
reported in Venice that they will be commuted. I trust in God they
may, at least, as regards the good Doctor. Do you know, I am as
fond of that noble fellow, pardon the expression, as if he were my
own brother."
He seemed moved, and walked away. Imagine the agitation I suffered
throughout the whole of that day, and indeed long after, as there
were no means of ascertaining anything further respecting the fate
of these unfortunate men.
A month elapsed, and at length the sentences connected with the
first trial were published. Nine were condemned to death,
GRACIOUSLY exchanged for hard imprisonment, some for twenty, and
others for fifteen years in the fortress of Spielberg, near the city
of Brunn, in Moravia; while those for ten years and under were to be
sent to the fortress of Lubiana.
Were we authorised to conclude, from this commutation of sentence in
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