He fell asleep towards dawn, and within an hour was
waked up by a violent shaking. He saw Trench bending over him with a
great fear on his face.
"Suppose they keep us in the prison to-day," he whispered in a shaking
voice, plucking at Feversham. "It has just occurred to me! Suppose they
did that!"
"Why should they?" answered Feversham; but the same fear caught hold of
him, and they sat dreading the appearance of Idris, lest he should have
some such new order to deliver. But Idris crossed the yard and unbolted
the prison door without a look at them. Fighting, screaming, jammed
together in the entrance, pulled back, thrust forwards, the captives
struggled out into the air, and among them was one who ran, foaming at
the mouth, and dashed his head against the wall.
"He is mad!" said Trench, as the gaolers secured him; and since Trench
was unmanned that morning he began to speak rapidly and almost with
incoherence. "That's what I have feared, Feversham, that I should go
mad. To die, even here, one could put up with that without overmuch
regret; but to go mad!" and he shivered. "If this man with the matches
proves false to us, Feversham, I shall be near to it--very near to it.
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