aid, "It is the last
quarter." Then he rose, crossed gravely a part of the hall, and placed
himself, leaning on his elbow, on the first frame on the left hand
side, close to the door of entrance; his countenance was perfectly
calm and benign.

Nine o'clock struck--the door opened--the director came in.

At that moment the silence of the work-room was as of a chamber full
of statues.

The director was alone as usual; he entered with his jovial,
self-satisfied, and stubborn air, without noticing Sam, who was
standing at the left side of the door, his right hand hidden in his
trowsers, and passed rapidly by the first frames, tossing his head,
mumbling his words, and casting his glance, which was law, here and
there, not perceiving that the eyes of all who surrounded him were
fixed upon him as upon a fearful phantom. On a sudden he turned
sharply round, surprised to hear a step behind him.

It was Sam Needy, who for some instants followed him in silence.

"What are you about there?" said the director. "Why are you not in
your place?"

Sam Needy answered respectfully, "Because I have something to say to
you, Mr. Flint."

"What about?"

"Concerning Heartall."

"Still Heartall!" exclaimed the director.

"Always," replied Sam.

"Be quiet," said the director, walking on again. "You are not content,
then, with your four-and-twenty hours of solitary confinement?"

Sam followed him--"Mr. Flint, give me back my comrade."

"Impossible!"

"Sir," said Sam, in a tone which might have softened the heart of a
fiend, "I entreat you, restore Heartall to me. You shall see how well
I will work. To you who are free, it is no matter--you do not know
what the worth of a friend is; but I have only the four walls of my
prison. You can come and go, I have nothing but Heartall--give him
back to me. Heartall fed me--you know it well. It will only cost you
the trouble of saying yes. What can it be to you that there should be
in the same room one man called Sam Needy, another called
Heartall?--for the thing is simply that, Mr. Flint; good Mr. Flint, I
beseech you earnestly, for Heaven's sake!"

Sam had probably never before said so much at one time to a jailer;
exhausted with the effort, he paused. The director replied, with an
impatient gesture,

"Impossible--I have said it; speak to me no more about it, you wear me
out."

Then, as if in a hurry, he stepped on more quickly, Sam following.
Thus speaking, they had reached the do