ils
of cement, sometimes being forced to hold the light while the man deftly
fitted in bricks, and made up what had been a fall, and beyond which the
passage seemed to continue ten or a dozen feet.

At intervals the gang broke off work to crawl backwards out of the
passage to partake of meals which were spread for them in the library.
These meals were good, and washed down with plenty of spirits and water,
the two servant-like women and the so-called Adela waiting on the party,
everything being a matter of wonder to the prisoner, who stared wildly
at the well-dressed, lady-like, girlish creature who busied herself in
supplying the wants of the gang of four bricklayer-like men.

At the first meal, Mr Barclay refused food. He said that he could not
eat; but he drank heartily from the glass placed at his side-water which
seemed to him to be flavoured with peculiar coarse brandy. But he was
troubled with a devouring thirst, consequent upon his exertions, and
that of which he had partaken seemed to increase the peculiar dreamy
nature of the scene. Whether it was laudanum or some other drug, we
could none of us ever say for certain; but Mr Barclay was convinced
that, nearly all the time, he was kept under the influence of some
narcotic, and that, in a confused dreamy way, he toiled on in that
narrow culvert.

He could keep no account of time, for he never once saw the light of
day, and though there were intervals for food and rest, they seemed to
be at various times; and from the rarity with which he heard the faint
rattle of some passing vehicle, he often thought that the greater part
of the work must be done by night.

At first he felt a keen sense of trouble connected with what he looked
upon as his disgrace and the way he had lowered himself; but at last he
worked on like some machine, obedient as a slave, but hour by hour
growing more stupefied, even to the extent of stopping short at times
and kneeling before his half-filled basket motionless, till a rude
thrust or a blow from a brickbat pitched at him roused him to continue
his task.

The drug worked well for his taskmasters, and the making of the mine
progressed rapidly, for every one connected therewith seemed in a state
of feverish anxiety now to get it done.

And so day succeeded day, and night gave place to night. The two
servant-like women went busily on with their work, and fetched
provisions for the household consumption, no tradespeople save milkman