Page:A French Volunteer of the War of Independence.djvu/238

214 of that worthy German, who often came to see him, and invited him to dinner. The champagne was not spared on these occasions, and, at length, one day, over the bottle, the doctor hinted that he had heard in the town that a prisoner of some importance, who was under the governor's care, was in a precarious state of health. He remarked that, in his own interest, the governor should see to this, as if the prisoner died, his death would be imputed to neglect or ill-treatment, and the odium of that charge would rest not only on the gaoler, but even on the sovereign.

"The guileless governor grew fearful of the consequences that might ensue, and begged the doctor's help and advice, and the other protested that as a good and loyal German he was ready to do everything he could for the patient. Trusting in the good faith of Dr. Bollman, the governor conducted him into the prisoner's cell. The doctor took advantage of the opportunity, and whilst feeling M. de la Fayette's pulse, slipped into his hand a note which informed him of the plot, and