"I must make the solution stronger, I think," he said, grievously
disappointed at the outcome of his labors, and as he looked at it he
heard the clank of the withdrawing bolts. Blowing out the candle he
sprang to the floor of the cell, picked up the table, set it down in
the center of the room, groped for the chair, and sat down, his heart
palpitating wildly at the fear of discovery.
Followed as usual by the man with the lantern, the gaoler came in,
carrying a bowl of hot steaming soup, which he placed on the table,
then he took from his pocket a spoon, a small hunk of black bread, and
a piece of cheese. In the light of the lantern Lermontoff consulted
his watch, and found it was six o'clock. The gaoler took the lantern
from his assistant, held it high, and looked round the room, while
Lermontoff gazed at him in anxiety, wondering whether that brutal
looking official suspected anything. Apparently he did not, but merely
wished to satisfy himself that everything was in order, for he said
more mildly than he had hitherto spoken:
"It is a long time since any one occupied this cell."
Then his eye rested on the vacant corner shelf.
"Ah, Excellency," he continued, "pardon me, I have forgotten. I must
bring you a basin."
"I'd rather you brought me a candle," said Lermontoff nonchalantly,
although his lips were dry, and he moistened them as he spoke; then,
to learn whether money was valueless on the rock, as the Governor had
intimated, he drew from his pocket one of the remaining gold pieces,
glad that he happened to have so many, and slipped it into the palm of
the gaoler's hand, whose fingers clutched it as eagerly as if he were
in St.
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