Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/166

138 officers who guarded me always left me for a long time in the dark, until they deigned to bring me a wretched candle, the wick of which I was obliged to cut now and then with two crusts of bread, the use of snuffers, as well as every article of iron, being strictly prohibited.

During several days after the last visit of Samoilow, I only once saw Makarow and Fuchs, who came to ask me to give them in writing my name, age, the place where I had been educated, and the foreign countries I had visited. I did not know the reason of this, but had no objection to comply with their request.

After three weeks of this deplorable existence, I once heard, about ten o'clock in the evening, a noise in Fischer’s room; I thought I heard Fuchs’ voice, and soldiers were going in and out. At last Fuchs entered hastily, and asked me how much money of mine was in the box they had taken from me, and how much belonged to Fischer. I told him the amount belonging to me, and soon after I heard several persons passing through the