CHAPTERI。

THEGOVERNOREXPLAINS。

ATtherequestofapersonwhohasclaimsonmethatImustnotdisown，IconsenttolookbackthroughalongintervalofyearsandtodescribeeventswhichtookplacewithinthewallsofanEnglishprisonduringtheearlierperiodofmyappointmentasGovernor。

Viewingmytaskbythelightwhichlaterexperiencecastsonit，IthinkIshallactwiselybyexercisingsomecontroloverthefreedomofmypen。

Iproposetopassoverinsilencethenameofthetowninwhichissituatedtheprisononceconfidedtomycare。Ishallobserveasimilardiscretioninalludingtoindividuals——somedead，someliving，atthepresenttime。

Beingobligedtowriteofawomanwhodeservedlysufferedtheextremepenaltyofthelaw，IthinkshewillbesufficientlyidentifiedifIcallherThePrisoner。Ofthefourpersonspresentontheeveningbeforeherexecutionthreemaybedistinguishedonefromtheotherbyallusiontotheirvocationsinlife。IhereintroducethemasTheChaplain，TheMinister，andTheDoctor。Thefourthwasayoungwoman。Shehasnoclaimonmyconsideration；and，whensheismentioned，hernamemayappear。

Ifthesereservesexcitesuspicion，Ideclarebeforehandthattheyinfluenceinnowaythesenseofresponsibilitywhichcommandsanhonestmantospeakthetruth。

CHAPTERII。

THEMURDERESSASKSQUESTIONS。

THEfirstoftheeventswhichImustnowrelatewastheconvictionofThePrisonerforthemurderofherhusband。

Theyhadlivedtogetherinmatrimonyforlittlemorethantwoyears。Thehusband，agentlemanbybirthandeducation，hadmortallyoffendedhisrelationsinmarryingawomanofaninferiorrankoflife。Hewasfastdecliningintoastateofpoverty，throughhisownrecklessextravagance，atthetimewhenhemetwithhisdeathathiswife’shand。

Withoutattemptingtoexcusehim，hedeserved，tomymind，sometributeofregret。Itisnottobedeniedthathewasprofligateinhishabitsandviolentinhistemper。Butitisequallytruethathewasaffectionateinthedomesticcircle，and，whenmovedbywiselyappliedremonstrance，sincerelypenitentforsinscommittedundertemptationthatoverpoweredhim。Ifhiswifehadkilledhiminafitofjealousrage——underprovocation，beitremembered，whichthewitnessesproved——shemighthavebeenconvictedofmanslaughter，andmighthavereceivedalightsentence。Buttheevidencesoundeniablyrevealeddeliberateandmercilesspremeditation，thattheonlydefenseattemptedbyhercounselwasmadness，andtheonlyalternativelefttoarighteousjurywasaverdictwhichcondemnedthewomantodeath。Thosemischievousmembersofthecommunity，whosetopsy—turvysympathiesfeelforthelivingcriminalandforgetthedeadvictim，attemptedtosaveherbymeansofhigh—flownpetitionsandcontemptiblecorrespondenceinthenewspapers。ButtheJudgeheldfirm；andtheHomeSecretaryheldfirm。Theywereentirelyright；andthepublicwerescandalouslywrong。

OurChaplainendeavoredtooffertheconsolationsofreligiontothecondemnedwretch。Sherefusedtoaccepthisministrationsinlanguagewhichfilledhimwithgriefandhorror。

Ontheeveningbeforetheexecution，thereverendgentlemanlaidonmytablehisownwrittenreportofaconversationwhichhadpassedbetweenthePrisonerandhimself。

"Iseesomehope，sir，"hesaid，"ofincliningtheheartofthiswomantoreligiousbelief，beforeitistoolate。Willyoureadmyreport，andsayifyouagreewithme？"

Ireadit，ofcourse。Itwascalled"AMemorandum，"andwasthuswritten：

"AthislastinterviewwiththePrisoner，theChaplainaskedherifshehadeverenteredaplaceofpublicworship。SherepliedthatshehadoccasionallyattendedtheservicesataCongregationalChurchinthistown；attractedbythereputationoftheMinisterasapreacher。’HeentirelyfailedtomakeaChristianofme，’shesaid；’butIwasstruckbyhiseloquence。

Besides，heinterestedmepersonally——hewasafineman。’

"Inthedreadfulsituationinwhichthewomanwasplaced，suchlanguageasthisshockedtheChaplain；heappealedinvaintothePrisoner’ssenseofpropriety。’Youdon’tunderstandwomen，’sheanswered。’Thegreatestsaintofmysexthateverlivedlikestolookatapreacheraswellastohearhim。Ifheisanagreeableman，hehasallthegreatereffectonher。Thispreacher’svoicetoldmehewaskind—hearted；andIhadonlytolookathisbeautifuleyestoseethathewastrustworthyandtrue。’

"Itwasuselesstorepeataprotestwhichhadalreadyfailed。

Recklesslyandflippantlyasshehaddescribedit，animpressionhadbeenproducedonher。ItoccurredtotheChaplainthathemightatleastmaketheattempttoturnthisresulttoherownreligiousadvantage。HeaskedwhethershewouldreceivetheMinister，ifthereverendgentlemancametotheprison。’Thatwilldepend，’shesaid，’onwhetheryouanswersomequestionswhichIwanttoputtoyoufirst。’TheChaplainconsented；

providedalwaysthathecouldreplywithproprietytowhatsheaskedofhim。Herfirstquestiononlyrelatedtohimself。

"Shesaid：’Thewomenwhowatchmetellmethatyouareawidower，andhaveafamilyofchildren。Isthattrue？’

"TheChaplainansweredthatitwasquitetrue。

"Shealludednexttoareport，currentinthetown，thattheMinisterhadresignedthepastorate。Beingpersonallyacquaintedwithhim，theChaplainwasabletoinformherthathisresignationhadnotyetbeenaccepted。Onhearingthis，sheseemedtogatherconfidence。Hernextinquiriessucceededeachotherrapidly，asfollows：

"’Ismyhandsomepreachermarried？’

"’Yes。’

"’Hashegotanychildren？’

"’Hehasneverhadanychildren。’

"’Howlonghashebeenmarried？’

"’AswellasIknow，aboutsevenoreightyears。

"’Whatsortofwomanishiswife？’

"’Aladyuniversallyrespected。’

"’Idon’tcarewhethersheisrespectedornot。Isshekind？’

"’Certainly！’

"’Isherhusbandwelloff？’

"’Hehasasufficientincome。’

"Afterthatreply，thePrisoner’scuriosityappearedtobesatisfied。Shesaid，’Bringyourfriendthepreachertome，ifyoulike’——andthereitended。

"Whatherobjectcouldhavebeeninputtingthesequestions，itseemstobeimpossibletoguess。Havingaccuratelyreportedallthattookplace，theChaplaindeclares，withheartfeltregret，thathecanexertnoreligiousinfluenceoverthisobduratewoman。HeleavesittotheGovernortodecidewhethertheMinisteroftheCongregationalChurchmaynotsucceed，wheretheChaplainoftheJailhasfailed。HereinistheonelasthopeofsavingthesoulofthePrisoner，nowundersentenceofdeath！"

InthoseseriouswordstheMemorandumended。AlthoughnotpersonallyacquaintedwiththeMinisterIhadheardofhim，onallsides，asanexcellentman。Intheemergencythatconfrontedushehad，asitseemedtome，hisownsacredrighttoentertheprison；assumingthathewaswillingtoaccept，whatImyselffelttobe，averyseriousresponsibility。Thefirstnecessitywastodiscoverwhetherwemighthopetoobtainhisservices。

WithmyfullapprovaltheChaplainleftme，tostatethecircumstancestohisreverendcolleague。

CHAPTERIII。

THECHILDAPPEARS。

DURINGmyfriend’sabsence，myattentionwasclaimedbyasadincident——notunforeseen。

Itis，Isuppose，generallyknownthatnearrelativesareadmittedtotaketheirleaveofcriminalscondemnedtodeath。InthecaseofthePrisonernowwaitingforexecution，nopersonappliedtotheauthoritiesforpermissiontoseeher。Imyselfinquiredifshehadanyrelationsliving，andifshewouldliketoseethem。Sheanswered："NonethatIcaretosee，orthatcaretoseeme——exceptthenearestrelationofall。"

Inthoselastwordsthemiserablecreaturealludedtoheronlychild，alittlegirl（aninfant，Ishouldsay），whohadpassedherfirstyear’sbirthdaybyafewmonths。Thefarewellinterviewwastotakeplaceonthemother’slasteveningonearth；andthechildwasnowbroughtintomyrooms，inchargeofhernurse。

Ihadseldomseenabrighterorprettierlittlegirl。Shewasjustabletowalkalone，andtoenjoythefirstdelightofmovingfromoneplacetoanother。Quiteofherownaccordshecametome，attractedIdaresaybytheglitterofmywatch—chain。Helpinghertoclimbonmyknee，Ishowedthewondersofthewatch，andheldittoherear。Atthatpasttime，deathhadtakenmygoodwifefromme；mytwoboyswereawayatHarrowSchool；mydomesticlifewasthelifeofalonelyman。WhetherIwasremindedofthebygonedayswhenmysonswereinfantsonmyknee，listeningtothetickingofmywatch——orwhetherthefriendlesspositionofthepoorlittlecreature，whohadlostoneparentandwassoontolosetheotherbyaviolentdeath，movedmeindepthsofpitynoteasilyreachedinmylaterexperience——Iamnotabletosay。ThisonlyIknow：myheartachedforthechildwhileshewaslaughingandlistening；andsomethingfellfrommeonthewatchwhichI

don’tdenymighthavebeenatear。Afewofthetoys，mostlybrokennow，whichmytwochildrenusedtoplaywitharestillinmypossession；kept，likemypoorwife’sfavoritejewels，foroldremembrance’sake。TheseItookfromtheirrepositorywhentheattractionofmywatchshowedsignsoffailing。Thechildpouncedonthemwithherchubbyhands，andscreamedwithpleasure。Andthehangmanwaswaitingforhermother——and，morehorridstill，themotherdeservedit！

MydutyrequiredmetoletthePrisonerknowthatherlittledaughterhadarrived。Didthatheartofironmeltatlast？Itmighthavebeenso，oritmightnot；themessagesentbackkepthersecret。Allthatitsaidtomewas："LetthechildwaittillIsendforher。"

TheMinisterhadconsentedtohelpus。Onhisarrivalattheprison，Ireceivedhimprivatelyinmystudy。

Ihadonlytolookathisface——pitiablypaleandagitated——toseethathewasasensitiveman，notalwaysabletocontrolhisnervesonoccasionswhichtriedhismoralcourage。Akind，I

mightalmostsayanobleface，andavoiceunaffectedlypersuasive，atonceprepossessedmeinhisfavor。ThefewwordsofwelcomethatIspokewereintendedtocomposehim。TheyfailedtoproducetheimpressiononwhichIhadcounted。

"Myexperience，"hesaid，"hasincludedmanymelancholyduties，andhastriedmycomposureinterriblescenes；butIhaveneveryetfoundmyselfinthepresenceofanunrepentantcriminal，sentencedtodeath——andthatcriminalawomanandamother。I

own，sir，thatIamshakenbytheprospectbeforeme。"

Isuggestedthatheshouldwaitawhile，inthehopethattimeandquietmighthelphim。Hethankedme，andrefused。

"IfIhaveanyknowledgeofmyself，"hesaid，"terrorsofanticipationlosetheirholdwhenIamfacetofacewithaseriouscallonme。ThelongerIremainhere，thelessworthyI

shallappearofthetrustthathasbeenplacedinme——thetrustwhich，pleaseGod，Imeantodeserve。"

Myownobservationofhumannaturetoldmethatthiswaswiselysaid。Iledthewayatoncetothecell。

CHAPTERIV。

THEMINISTERSAYSYES。

THEPrisonerwasseatedonherbed，quietlytalkingwiththewomanappointedtowatchher。Whensherosetoreceiveus，IsawtheMinisterstart。Thefacethatconfrontedhimwould，inmyopinion，havetakenanymanbysurprise，ifhehadfirsthappenedtoseeitwithinthewallsofaprison。

Visitorstothepicture—galleriesofItaly，growingwearyofHolyFamiliesinendlesssuccession，observethattheideaoftheMadonna，amongtherankandfileofItalianPainters，islimitedtoonechangelessandfamiliartype。IcanhardlyhopetobebelievedwhenIsaythatthepersonalappearanceofthemurderessrecalledthattype。Shepresentedthedelicatelighthair，thequieteyes，thefinely—shapedlowerfeaturesandthecorrectlyovalformofface，repeatedinhundredsonhundredsoftheconventionalworksofArttowhichIhaveventuredtoallude。Tothosewhodoubtme，IcanonlydeclarethatwhatIhaveherewrittenisundisguisedandabsolutetruth。Letmeaddthatdailyobservationofallclassesofcriminals，extendingovermanyyears，hasconsiderablydiminishedmyfaithinphysiognomyasasafeguidetothediscoveryofcharacter。Nervoustrepidationlookslikeguilt。Guilt，firmlysustainedbyinsensibility，lookslikeinnocence。Oneofthevilestwretcheseverplacedundermychargewonthesympathies（whilehewaswaitingforhistrial）ofeverypersonwhosawhim，includingeventhepersonsemployedintheprison。Onlytheotherday，ladiesandgentlemencomingtovisitmepassedabodyofmenatworkontheroad。Judgesofphysiognomyamongthemwerehorrifiedatthecriminalatrocitybetrayedineveryfacethattheynoticed。Theycondoledwithmeonthenearneighborhoodofsomanyconvictstomyofficialplaceofresidence。Ilookedoutofthewindowandsawagroupofhonestlaborers（whoseonlycrimewaspoverty）employedbytheparish！

Havinginstructedthefemalewardertoleavetheroom——buttotakecarethatshewaitedwithincall——IlookedagainattheMinister。

Confrontedbytheseriousresponsibilitythathehadundertaken，hejustifiedwhathehadsaidtome。Stillpale，stilldistressed，hewasnowneverthelessmasterofhimself。IturnedtothedoortoleavehimalonewiththePrisoner。Shecalledmeback。

"Beforethisgentlemantriestoconvertme，"shesaid，"Iwantyoutowaithereandbeawitness。"

Findingthatwewerebothwillingtocomplywiththisrequest，sheaddressedherselfdirectlytotheMinister。"SupposeI

promisetolistentoyourexhortations，"shebegan，"whatdoyoupromisetodoformeinreturn？"

Thevoiceinwhichshespoketohimwassteadyandclear；amarkedcontrasttothetremulousearnestnesswithwhichheansweredher。

"Ipromisetourgeyoutorepentanceandtheconfessionofyourcrime。Ipromisetoimplorethedivineblessingonmeintheefforttosaveyourpoorguiltysoul。"

Shelookedathim，andlistenedtohim，asifhewasspeakingtoherinanunknowntongue，andwentonwithwhatshehadtosayasquietlyasever。

"WhenIamhangedto—morrow，supposeIdiewithoutconfessing，withoutrepenting——areyouoneofthosewhobelieveIshallbedoomedtoeternalpunishmentinanotherlife？"

"IbelieveinthemercyofGod。"

"Answermyquestion，ifyouplease。Isanimpenitentsinnereternallypunished？Doyoubelievethat？"

"MyBibleleavesmenootheralternative。"

Shepausedforawhile，evidentlyconsideringwithspecialattentionwhatshewasabouttosaynext。

"Asareligiousman，"sheresumed，"wouldyoubewillingtomakesomesacrifice，ratherthanletafellow—creaturego——afteradisgracefuldeath——toeverlastingtorment？"

"Iknowofnosacrificeinmypower，"hesaid，fervently，"towhichIwouldnotrathersubmitthanletyoudieinthepresentdreadfulstateofyourmind。"

ThePrisonerturnedtome。"Isthepersonwhowatchesmewaitingoutside？"

"Yes。"

"Willyoubesokindastocallherin？Ihaveamessageforher。"

Itwasplainthatshehadbeenleadingthewaytothedeliveryofthatmessage，whateveritmightbe，inallthatshehadsaiduptothepresenttime。Sofarmypoorpowersofpenetrationhelpedme，andnofurther。

Thewarderappeared，andreceivedhermessage。"TellthewomanwhohascomeherewithmylittlegirlthatIwanttoseethechild。"

Takencompletelybysurprise，Isignedtotheattendanttowaitforfurtherinstructions。

InamomentmoreIhadsufficientlyrecoveredmyselftoseetheimproprietyofpermittinganyobstacletointerposebetweentheMinisterandhiserrandofmercy。IgentlyremindedthePrisonerthatshewouldhavealateropportunityofseeingherchild。

"Yourfirstduty，"Itoldher，"istohearandtotaketoheartwhattheclergymanhastosaytoyou。"

ForthesecondtimeIattemptedtoleavethecell。Forthesecondtimethisimpenetrablewomancalledmeback。

"Taketheparsonawaywithyou，"shesaid。"Irefusetolistentohim。"

ThepatientMinisteryielded，andappealedtometofollowhisexample。Ireluctantlysanctionedthedeliveryofthemessage。

Afterabriefintervalthechildwasbroughttous，tiredandsleepy。Forawhilethenurserousedherbysettingheronherfeet。ShehappenedtonoticetheMinisterfirst。Herbrighteyesrestedonhim，gravelywondering。Hekissedher，and，afteramomentaryhesitation，gavehertohermother。Thehorrorofthesituationoverpoweredhim：heturnedhisfaceawayfromus。I

understoodwhathefelt；healmostoverthrewmyownself—command。

ThePrisonerspoketothenurseinnofriendlytone："Youcango。"

Thenurseturnedtome，ostentatiouslyignoringthewordsthathadbeenaddressedtoher。"AmItogo，sir，ortostay？"I

suggestedthatsheshouldreturntothewaiting—room。Shereturnedatonceinsilence。ThePrisonerlookedafterherasshewentout，withsuchanexpressionofhatredinhereyesthattheMinisternoticedit。

"Whathasthatpersondonetooffendyou？"heasked。

"SheisthelastpersoninthewholeworldwhomIshouldhavechosentotakecareofmychild，ifthepowerofchoosinghadbeenmine。ButIhavebeeninprison，withoutalivingcreaturetorepresentmeortotakemypart。Nomoreofthat；mytroubleswillbeoverinafewhoursmore。Iwantyoutolookatmylittlegirl，whosetroublesarealltocome。Doyoucallherpretty？Doyoufeelinterestedinher？"

Thesorrowandpityinhisfaceansweredforhim。

Quietlysleeping，thepoorbabyrestedonhermother’sbosom。Wastheheartofthemurderesssoftenedbythedivineinfluenceofmaternallove？Thehandsthatheldthechildtrembledalittle。

Forthefirsttimeitseemedtocostheranefforttocomposeherself，beforeshecouldspeaktotheMinisteragain。

"WhenIdieto—morrow，"shesaid，"Ileavemychildhelplessandfriendless——disgracedbyhermother’sshamefuldeath。Theworkhousemaytakeher——oracharitableasylummaytakeher。"Shepaused；afirsttingeofcolorroseonherpaleface；shebrokeintoanoutburstofrage。"Thinkof_my_daughterbeingbroughtupbycharity！Shemaysufferpoverty，shemaybetreatedwithcontempt，shemaybeemployedbybrutalpeopleinmenialwork。I

can’tendureit；itmaddensme。Ifsheisnotsavedfromthatwretchedfate，Ishalldiedespairing，Ishalldiecursing——"

TheMinistersternlystoppedherbeforeshecouldsaythenextword。Tomyastonishmentsheappearedtobehumbled，tobeevenashamed：sheaskedhispardon："Forgiveme；Iwon’tforgetmyselfagain。Theytellmeyouhavenochildrenofyourown。Isthatasorrowtoyouandyourwife？"

Heralteredtonetouchedhim。Heansweredsadlyandkindly："Itistheonesorrowofourlives。"

ThepurposewhichshehadbeenkeepinginviewfromthemomentwhentheMinisterenteredhercellwasnomysterynow。OughtItohaveinterfered？Letmeconfessaweakness，unworthyperhapsofmyoffice。Iwassosorryforthechild——Ihesitated。

Mysilenceencouragedthemother。SheadvancedtotheMinisterwiththesleepinginfantinherarms。

"Idaresayyouhavesometimesthoughtofadoptingachild？"shesaid。"PerhapsyoucanguessnowwhatIhadinmymind，whenI

askedifyouwouldconsenttoasacrifice？Willyoutakethiswretchedinnocentlittlecreaturehomewithyou？"Shelostherself—possessiononcemore。"Amotherlesscreatureto—morrow，"sheburstout。"Thinkofthat。"

GodknowshowIstillshrunkfromit！Buttherewasnoalternativenow；Iwasboundtoremembermydutytotheexcellentman，whosecriticalpositionatthatmomentwas，insomedegreeatleast，duetomyhesitationinassertingmyauthority。CouldI

allowthePrisonertopresumeonhiscompassionatenature，andtohurryhimintoadecisionwhich，inhiscalmermoments，hemightfindreasontoregret？Ispoketo_him。_Doesthemanlivewho——havingtosaywhatIhadtosay——couldhavespokentothedoomedmother？

"Iamsorrytohaveallowedthistogoon，"Isaid。"Injusticetoyourself，sir，don’tanswer！"

Sheturnedonmewithalookoffury。

"Heshallanswer，"shecried。

Isaw，orthoughtIsaw，signsofyieldinginhisface。"Taketime，"Ipersisted——"taketimetoconsiderbeforeyoudecide。"

Shesteppeduptome。

"Taketime？"sherepeated。"Areyouinhumanenoughtotalkoftime，inmypresence？"

Shelaidthesleepingchildonherbed，andfellonherkneesbeforetheMinister："Ipromisetohearyourexhortations——I

promisetodoallawomancantobelieveandrepent。Oh，Iknowmyself！Myheart，oncehardened，isaheartthatnohumancreaturecantouch。Theonewaytomybetternature——ifIhaveabetternature——isthroughthatpoorbabe。Saveherfromtheworkhouse！Don’tletthemmakeapauperofher！"Shesankprostrateathisfeet，andbeatherhandsinfrenzyonthefloor。

"Youwanttosavemyguiltysoul，"sheremindedhimfuriously。

"There’sbutonewayofdoingit。Savemychild！"

Heraisedher。Herfiercetearlesseyesquestionedhisfaceinamuteexpectationdreadfultosee。Suddenly，aforetasteofdeath——thedeaththatwassonearnow！——struckherwithashiveringfit：herheaddroppedontheMinister’sshoulder。Othermenmighthaveshrunkfromthecontactofit。ThattrueChristianletitrest。

Underthemaddeningstingofsuspense，hersinkingenergiesralliedforaninstant。Inawhisper，shewasjustabletoputthesupremequestiontohim。

"Yes？orNo？"

Heanswered："Yes。"

Afaintbreathofrelief，justaudibleinthesilence，toldmethatshehadheardhim。Itwasherlasteffort。Helaidher，insensible，onthebed，bythesideofhersleepingchild。"Lookatthem，"wasallhesaidtome；"howcouldIrefuse？"

CHAPTERV。

MISSCHANCEASSERTSHERSELF。

THEservicesofourmedicalofficerwererequired，inordertohastentherecoveryofthePrisoner’ssenses。

WhentheDoctorandIleftthecelltogether，shewascomposed，andready（intheperformanceofherpromise）tolistentotheexhortationsoftheMinister。Thesleepingchildwasleftundisturbed，bythemother’sdesire。IftheMinisterfelttemptedtoregretwhathehaddone，therewastheartlessinfluencewhichwouldcheckhim！Aswesteppedintothecorridor，Igavethefemalewarderherinstructionstoremainonthewatch，andtoreturntoherpostwhenshesawtheMinistercomeout。

Inthemeantime，mycompanionhadwalkedonalittleway。

Possessedofabilityandexperiencewithinthelimitsofhisprofession，hewasinotherrespectsamanwithacrotchetymind；

boldtothevergeofrecklessnessintheexpressionofhisopinion；andpossessedofacommandoflanguagethatcarriedeverythingbeforeit。Letmeaddthathewasjustandmercifulinhisintercoursewithothers，andIshallhavesummedhimupfairlyenough。WhenIjoinedhimheseemedtobeabsorbedinreflection。

"ThinkingofthePrisoner？"Isaid。

"Thinkingofwhatisgoingon，atthismoment，inthecondemnedcell，"heanswered，"andwonderingifanygoodwillcomeofit。"

Iwasnotwithouthopeofagoodresult，andIsaidso。

TheDoctordisagreedwithme。"Idon’tbelieveinthatwoman’spenitence，"heremarked；"andIlookupontheparsonasapoorweakcreature。Whatistobecomeofthechild？"

Therewasnoreasonforconcealingfromoneofmycolleaguesthebenevolentdecision，onthepartofthegoodMinister，ofwhichI

hadbeenawitness。TheDoctorlistenedtomewiththefirstappearanceofdownrightastonishmentthatIhadeverobservedinhisface。WhenIhaddone，hemadeanextraordinaryreply：

"Governor，IretractwhatIsaidoftheparsonjustnow。Heisoneoftheboldestmenthateversteppedintoapulpit。"

Wasthedoctorinearnest？Stronglyinearnest；therecouldbenodoubtofit。BeforeIcouldaskhimwhathemeant，hewascalledawaytoapatientontheothersideoftheprison。Whenwepartedatthedoorofmyroom，Imadeitarequestthatmymedicalfriendwouldreturntomeandexplainwhathehadjustsaid。

"Consideringthatyouarethegovernorofaprison，"hereplied，"youareasingularlyrashman。IfIcomeback，howdoyouknowI

shallnotboreyou？"

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读