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came to the words, CONDEMNED TO DEATH. There was then heard one
general murmur of compassion. This was followed by a similar
silence, in order to hear the rest of the document. A fresh murmur
arose on the announcement of the following:- condemned to hard
imprisonment, Maroncelli for TWENTY YEARS, and Pellico for FIFTEEN.
The Captain made a sign for us to descend. We cast one glance
around us, and came down. We re-entered the court-yard, mounted the
great staircase, and were conducted into the room from which we had
been dragged. The manacles were removed, and we were soon
reconducted to San Michele.
CHAPTER LIV.
The prisoners who had been condemned before us had already set out
for Lubiana and Spielberg, accompanied by a commissary of police.
He was now expected back, in order to conduct us to our destination;
but the interval of a month elapsed.
My time was chiefly spent in talking, and listening to the
conversation of others, in order to distract my attention.
Maroncelli read me some of his literary productions, and in turn, I
read him mine. One evening I read from the window my play of Ester
d'Engaddi, to Canova, Rezia, and Armari; and the following evening,
the Iginia d'Asti. During the night, however, I grew irritable and
wretched, and was unable to sleep. I both desired and feared to
learn in what manner the tidings of my calamity had been received by
my family.
At length I got a letter from my father, and was grieved to find,
from the date, that my last to him had not been sent, as I had
requested of the Inquisitor, immediately! Thus my unhappy father,
while flattering himself that I should be set at liberty, happening
to take up the Milan Gazette, read the horrid sentence which I had
just received upon the scaffold. He himself acquainted me with this
fact, and left me to infer what his feelings must have been on
meeting thus suddenly with the sad news. I cannot express the
contempt and anger I felt on learning that my letter had been kept
back; and how deeply I felt for all my poor unhappy family. There
was doubtless no malice in this delay, but I looked upon it as a
refinement of the most atrocious barbarity; an eager, infernal
desire to see the iron enter, as it were, the very soul of my
beloved and innocent relatives. I felt, indeed, as if I could have
delighted to shed a sea of blood, could I only punish this flagrant
and premeditated inhumanity.
Now that I judge calmly, I find it very improbable. The delay,
doubtless, was simply owing to inadvertency on the part of
subordinate agents. Enraged as I was, I heard with still more
excited feelings that my companions were about to celebrate Easter
week ere their departure. As for me, I considered it wholly
impossible, inasmuch as I felt not the least disposition towards
forgiveness. Should I be guilty of such a scandal!
CHAPTER LV.
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