heir prison, her thoughts began to wander
from his case to her own. The outrageous conduct of those Americans in
discrediting her word and incarcerating her person, though overshadowed
at the time by the yet greater atrocity of the Baron's behavior, now
loomed up in formidable proportions. And the gravity of their offence
was emphasized by an unpleasant sensation she now began to experience
with considerable acuteness.

"Do they mean to starve us as well as insult us?" she wondered.

The Baron's thoughts also seemed to have drifted into a different
channel. He no longer sang; he fidgeted in his chair; he even softly
groaned; and at last he actually changed his attitude so far as to
survey the dim form of his mother-in-law over one shoulder.

"Oh, ze devil!" he exclaimed aloud. "I am so hongry!"

"That is no reason why you should also be profane," said the Countess
severely.

"I did not speak to you," retorted the Baron, and again a constrained
silence fell on the room.

The Baron was the first to break it.

"Ha!" he cried. "I hear a step."

"Thank God!" exclaimed the Countess devoutly.

In the blaze of a stable lantern there entered to them Dugald M'Culloch,
jailor.

"Will you be for any supper?" he inquired, with a politeness he felt due
to prisoners with purses.

"I do starve!" replied the Baron.

"And I am nearly fainting!" cried the Countess.

Both rose with an alacrity astonishing in people so nearly exhausted,
and made as though they would pass out. With a deprecatory gesture
Dugald arrested them.

"I will bring your supper fery soon," said he.

"Here?" gasped the Countess.

"It is the master's orders."

"Tell him I vill have him ponished mit ze law, if he does not let me
come out!" roared the Baron.

Their jailor was courtesy itself; but it was in their prison that they
supped--a silent meal, and very plain. And, bitterest pill of all, they
were further informed that in their prison they must pass the night.

"In ze same room!" cried the Baron frantically. "Impossible! Improper!"

Even his mother-in-law's solicitude shrank from this vigil; but with
unruffled consideration for their comfort their guardian and his
assistants made up two beds forthwith. The Baron, subdued to a fierce
and snarling moodiness, watched their preparations with a lurid eye.

"Put not zat bed so near ze door," he snapped.

In his ear his jailor whispered, "That one's for you, sir, and dinna put
off your clothes