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One symptom of awkwardness was, that he addressed Toussaint by no sort of title. "We have had notice of your approach," said he; "which is fortunate, as it enables me to conduct you at once to your apartment. Will you proceed? This way. A torch, Bellines! We have been looking for you these two days; which happens very well, as we have been enabled to prepare for you. Torches, Bellines! This way.
Yes! this night; or I shall never see winter." "This night! Oh, certainly! You can have a fire, though it is not usual with us at this season. Bellines a fire here immediately."
He was not again to see a human face. The Commandant was to be absent awhile, and, on returning, to find his prisoner dead. He used all means that he could devise to ascertain whether it were indeed so. He called Bellines from the door, in the way which Bellines had never failed to reply to since the departure of Mars Plaisir. Bellines did not come.
There was a call or two, and some singing, just after you went; but nothing since." "Hush! Listen!" They listened motionless for some time; but nothing was heard but the everlasting plash, which went on all around them. "Unbar the door, Bellines." He did so, and held the door wide for the Commandant to enter. Rubaut stalked in, and straight up to the straw bed.
Toussaint silently watched the kid, as it moved from point to point on the face of the rock: and it was with some sorrow that he at last saw it spring away. Just then, Bellines entered with the usual miserable breakfast. Toussaint requested fire, to which Bellines assented. He then asked to have the window opened, that the air of the spring morning might enter.
Toussaint's heart beat at the thought that this might give him one more opportunity of being abroad in the daylight, perhaps in the sun! He rose to make the attempt; but he was exhausted by the conversation he had held the first for so long! His aching limbs failed him; and he sank down on his bed, from which he did not rise till long after Bellines had laid down his loads, and left the place.
Bellines pleaded in his defence that the floor had been dried twice since morning; but that there was no stopping the melting of the ice above. The water would come through the joints till the winter frosts set in. "Ay, the winter frosts they will set all to rights. They will cure the melting of the ice, no doubt."
There was no learning from Bellines, however, whether the Commandant had returned to the fortress, or who was his lieutenant, if he had not. In the middle of April, the doubt was settled by the appearance of Rubaut himself in the cell. He was civil unusually so but declared himself unable to give any information about Mars Plaisir.
Tell him this; tell him that I perish willingly, if this consequence of my fidelity to France may be a plea for justice to my race." "How people have misrepresented you to me!" said Rubaut, bustling about the cell, and opening the door to call Bellines. "They told me you were very silent rarely spoke." "That was true when my duty was to think," said Toussaint. "To-day my duty has been to speak.
Remember that yours, in fidelity to your ruler, is to repeat to him what I say." "More wood, Bellines," said Rubaut, going to the door, to give further directions in a low voice. Returning, he said, with some hurry of manner, that, as he was to be absent for two or three days, he had sent for such a supply of wood and flambeaux as might last some time. More books should also be brought.
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