arbitrary act than to let a man escape to whose capture the Minister
attached great importance。 In those days of liberty the agents of the
powers in authority cared little enough for what we now regard as
/legal/。 The Chevalier was therefore imprisoned provisionally； until
the superior officials should come to some decision as to his
identity。 He had not long to wait for it； orders were given to guard
the prisoner closely in spite of his denials。
〃The Chevalier de Beauvoir was next transferred； in obedience to
further orders； to the Castle of l'Escarpe； a name which sufficiently
indicates its situation。 This fortress； perched on very high rocks；
has precipices for its trenches； it is reached on all sides by steep
and dangerous paths； and； like every ancient castle； its principal
gate has a drawbridge over a wide moat。 The commandant of this prison；
delighted to have charge of a man of family whose manners were most
agreeable； who expressed himself well； and seemed highly educated；
received the Chevalier as a godsend； he offered him the freedom of the
place on parole； that they might together the better defy its dulness。
The prisoner was more than content。
〃Beauvoir was a loyal gentleman； but； unfortunately； he was also a
very handsome youth。 He had attractive features； a dashing air； a
pleasing address； and extraordinary strength。 Well made； active； full
of enterprise； and loving danger； he would have made an admirable
leader of guerillas； and was the very man for the part。 The commandant
gave his prisoner the most comfortable room； entertained him at his
table； and at first had nothing but praise for the Vendean。 This
officer was a Corsican and married； his wife was pretty and charming；
and he thought her； perhaps； not to be trustedat any rate； he was as
jealous as a Corsican and a rather ill…looking soldier may be。 The
lady took a fancy to Beauvoir； and he found her very much to his
taste； perhaps they loved！ Love in a prison is quick work。 Did they
commit some imprudence？ Was the sentiment they entertained something
warmer than the superficial gallantry which is almost a duty of men
towards women？
〃Beauvoir never fully explained this rather obscure episode of the
story； it is at least certain that the commandant thought himself
justified in treating his prisoner with excessive severity。 Beauvoir
was placed in the dungeon； fed on black bread and cold water； and
fettered in accordance with the time…honored traditions of the
treatment lavished on captives。 His cell； under the fortress…yard； was
vaulted with hard stone； the walls were of desperate thickness； the
tower overlooked the precipice。
〃When the luckless man had convinced himself of the impossibility of
escape； he fell into those day…dreams which are at once the comfort
and the crowning despair of prisoners。 He gave himself up to the
trifles which in such cases seem so important； he counted the hours
and the days； he studied the melancholy trade of being prisoner； he
became absorbed in himself； and learned the value of air and sunshine；
then； at the end of a fortnight； he was attacked by that terrible
malady； that fever for liberty； which drives prisoners to those heroic
efforts of which the prodigious achievements seem to us impossible；
though true； and which my friend the doctor〃 （and he turned to
Bianchon） 〃would perhaps ascribe to some unknown forces too recondite
for his physiological analysis to detect； some mysteries of the human
will of which the obscurity baffles science。〃
Bianchon shook his head in negation。
〃Beauvoir was eating his heart out； for death alone could set him
free。 One morning the turnkey； whose duty it was to bring him his
food； instead of leaving him when he had given him his meagre
pittance； stood with his arms folded； looking at him with strange
meaning。 Conversation between them was brief； and the warder never
began it。 The Chevalier was therefore greatly surprised when the man
said to him： 'Of course； monsieur； you know your own business when you
insist on being always called Monsieur Lebrun； or citizen Lebrun。 It
is no concern of mine； ascertaining your name is no part of my duty。
It is all the same to me whether you call yourself Peter or Paul。 If
every man minds his own business； the cows will not stray。 At the same
time； /I/ know；' said he； with a wink； 'that you are Monsieur Charles…
Felix…Theodore； Chevalier de Beauvoir； and cousin to Madame la
Duchesse de Maille。Heh？' he added after a short silence； during
which he looked at his prisoner。
〃Beauvoir； seeing that he was safe under lock and key； did not imagine
that his position could be any the worse if his real name were known。
〃 'Well； and supposing I were the Chevalier de Beauvoir； what should I
gain by that？' said he。
〃 'Oh； there is everything to be gained by it；' replied the jailer in
an undertone。 'I have been paid to help you to get away； but wait a
minute！ If I were suspected in the smallest degree； I should be shot
out of hand。 So I have said that I will do no more in the matter than
will just earn the money。Look here；' said he； taking a small file
out of his pocket； 'this is your key； with this you can cut through
one of your bars。 By the Mass； but it will not be any easy job；' he
went on； glancing at the narrow loophole that let daylight into the
dungeon。
〃It was in a splayed recess under the deep cornice that ran round the
top of the tower； between the brackets that supported the embrasures。
〃 'Monsieur；' said the man； 'you must take care to saw through the
iron low enough to get your body through。'
〃 'I will get through； never fear；' said the prisoner。
〃 'But high enough to leave a stanchion to fasten a cord to；' the
warder went on。
〃 'And where is the cord？' asked Beauvoir。
〃 'Here；' said the man； throwing down a knotted rope。 'It is made of
raveled linen； that you may be supposed to have contrived it yourself；
and it is long enough。 When you have got to the bottom knot； let
yourself drop gently； and the rest you must manage for yourself。 You
will probably find a carriage somewhere in the neighborhood； and
friends looking out for you。 But I know nothing about that。I need
not remind you that there is a man…at…arms to the right of the tower。
You will take care； of course； to choose a dark night； and wait till
the sentinel is asleep。 You must take your chance of being shot；
but'
〃 'All right！ All right！ At least I shall not rot here；' cried the
young man。
〃 'Well； that may happen nevertheless；' replied the jailer； with a
stupid expression。
〃Beauvoir thought this was merely one of the aimless remarks that such
folks indulge in。 The hope of freedom filled him with such joy that he
could not be troubled to consider the words of a man who was no more
than a better sort of peasant。 He set to work at once； and had filed
the bars through in the course of the day。 Fearing a visit from the
Governor； he stopped up the breaches with bread crumb rubbed in rust
to make it look like iron； he hid his rope； and waited for a favorable
night with the intensity of anticipation； the deep anguish of soul
that makes a prisoner's life dramatic。
〃At last； one murky night； an autumn night； he finished cutting
through the bars； tied the cord firmly to the stump； and perched
himself on the sill outside； holding on by one hand to the piece of
iron remaining。 Then he waited for the darkest hour of the night； when
the sentinels would probably be asleep； this would be not long before
dawn。 He knew the hours of their rounds； the length of each watch；
every detail with which prisoners； almost involuntarily； become
familiar。 He waited till the moment when one of the men…at…arms had
spent two…thirds of his watch and gone into his box for shelter from
the fog。 Then； feeling sure that the chances were at the best for his
escape； he let himself down knot by knot； hanging between earth and
sky； and clinging to his rope with the strength of a giant。 All was
well。 At the last knot but one； just as he was about to let himself
drop； a prudent impulse led him to feel for the ground with his feet；
and he found no footing。 The predicament was awkward for a man bathed
in sweat； tired； and perplexed； and in a position where his life was
at stake on even chances。 He was about to risk it； when a trivial
incident stopped him； his hat fell off； happily； he listened for the
noise it must make in striking the ground； and he heard not a sound。
〃The prisoner felt vaguely suspicious as to this state of affairs。 He
began to wonder whether the Commandant had not laid a trap for him
but if so； why？ Torn by doubts； he almost resolved to postpone the
attempt till another night。 At any rate； he would wait for the first
gleam of day； when it would still not be impossible to escape。 His
great strength enabled him to climb up again to his window； still； he
was almost exhausted by the time he gained the sill； where he crouched
on the lookout； exactly like a cat on the parapet of a gutter。 Before
long； by the pale light of dawn； he perceived as he waved the rope
that there was a little interval of a hundred feet between the lowest
knot and the pointed rocks below。
〃 'Thank you； my friend； the Governor！' said he； with characteristic
coolness。 Then； after a brief meditation on this skilfully…planned
revenge； he thought it wise to return to his cell。
〃He laid his outer clothes conspicuously on the bed； left the rope
outside to make it seem that he had fallen； and hid himself behind the
door to await the arrival of the treacherous turnkey； arming himself
with one of the iron bars he had filed out。 The jailer； who returned
rather earlier than usual to secure the dead man's leavings； opened
the door； whistling as he came in； but when he was at arm's length；
Beauvoir hit him such a tremendous blow on the head that the wretch
fell in a heap without a cry； the bar had cracked his skull。
〃The Chevalier hastily stripped him and put on his clothes； mimicked
his walk； and； thanks to the early hour and the undoubting confidence
of the warders of the great gate； he walked out and away。〃
It did not seem to strike either the lawyer or Madame de la Baudraye
that there wa