Page:The Necromancer, or, The Tale of the Black Forest Vol. 2.djvu/110

 ments, and prompted me to see him early in the morning.

Having mustered up all my fortitude I went to the prison at six o'clock: Perhaps, thought I, the old man may now be more willing to dispel thy doubts than formerly, being on the awful brink of eternity, and disclose the mystery of his former impenetrable transactions, and thy presence may not distress the unhappy man so much as thou thinkest! Yet I could not get entirely rid of my apprehensions of increasing the sufferings of my benefactor, or being perhaps disappointed in my expectation.

In this state of mind I arrived at the prison, which was opened by the goaler after a violent knocking. I requested him to favor me with a short interview with the prisoner, but was denied access, because it was against the common rule to introduce company to the convicts the day before the execution. I offered him a dollar, entreating him to make