Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/159

Rh persist in denial, you will only ruin yourself, without doing good to any one. What, then, are the names of these rebels?”–“I have told you, Monsieur le Comte, that I know none of them.”—“Ah! you don't know them; you don’t want to tell their names.—Recollect where you are.”—“I know,” said I, “that I am in prison, and that my life is in your hands.”—“Do you know the means which are used to compel prisoners to tell truth, when they persist in denying it?”—“I do know, and am ready to suffer tortures, but you will obtain nothing from me by these means.” Then Samoilow, repressing his rage. said to me in a low voice: “You shall never leave this place,” and went out.

I knew perfectly the motives which made him insist, with such violence, on knowing the names of my unfortunate countrymen who were compromised in the insurrection. The Empress, stimulated by the instigation of her favourite and ministers, caused, on the least suspicion, the estates of the patriots to be confiscated; consequently the more their number