The clerk, stepping forward and saluting, presented to the Governor
seated there the papers and envelopes given him by the Captain. The
officer selected a blue sheet of paper, and scrutinized it for a
moment under the lamp.
"Where are the others?"
"We have landed first the supplies, Governor; then the boat will
return for the others."
The Governor nodded, and struck a bell with his open palm. There
entered a big man with a bunch of keys at his belt, followed by
another who carried a lighted lantern.
"Number Nine," said the Governor to the gaolers.
"I beg your pardon, sir, am I a prisoner?" asked Lermontoff.
The Governor gave utterance to a sound that was more like the grunt of
a pig than the ejaculation of a man. He did not answer, but looked up
at the questioner, and the latter saw that his face, gaunt almost as
that of a living skeleton, was pallid as putty.
"Number Nine," he repeated, whereupon the gaoler and the man with the
lantern put a hand each on Lermontoff's shoulders, and marched him
away. They walked together down a long passage, the swaying lantern
casting its yellow rays on the iron bolts of door after door, until at
last the gaoler stopped, threw back six bolts, inserted a key,
unlocked the door, and pushed it ponderously open. The lantern showed
it to be built like the door of a safe, but unlike that of a safe it
opened inwards. As soon as the door came ajar Lermontoff heard the
sound of flowing water, and when the three entered, he noticed a rapid
little stream sparkling in the rays of the lantern at the further end
of the cell.
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