Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/135

Rh pain. The surgeon came, examined my arm, and said that mineral waters only could restore to me the use of my hand. They will not send me there, thought I, so I must be resigned, and let nature perform her part.

The day after, at eleven o'clock in the morning, I heard a great number of persons walking in the passage; the door of Fischer's cell opened, and somebody went in; I was almost sure that it was the Procurator-General Samoilow, and, after a conference of a quarter of an hour with Fischer, my supposition was realised on seeing the former enter my room. He told me that I must know how unpardonable were the wrongs which I had done to Russia, and to the august and sacred person of his great sovereign; that my fate was in my own hands, that if I would speak frankly and with veracity, and give them the information which they would require, I was sure of my fortune and the most brilliant career, but if, on the contrary, I should be reserved, and persist in keeping silence, I had only to expect the greatest