superior officer, with one or two others, and
the nature of the business in hand was
explained to them. In one of the provincial
towns there had died a government official,
whose place it was usual to supply from
among the convicts of the worst class. The
office was that of executioner of the town of
Damburgville-Cittapoli, and the six prisoners
selected were to have the option given them,
each in his turn, of buying freedom by acceptance
of the vacant office.

They were told that the salary was a good
one, but that the officer appointed would live
quite alone, because of course the townspeople
would not visit with the headsman, even if he
were a gentleman and not a convict of the
lowest class. Bertram stood fourth in the
order of seniority; and was therefore pained
to feel that he should lose this very good
chance of emancipation.

He did not lose it.

The first who was called forward declined
to leave the prison, saying that he was
accustomed to it, and should not know what to
do with himself at Damburgville, with nobody
to speak to.

The second who was called answered that
he should not like to undertake such bloody
work. At this there was a general laugh,
because the man was known to have
committed more than one murder. He understood
the laugh, and offered explanation of his
scruple. He said that there was a difference
between some things and other things; that
when a fellow was in the humour, and had
something pretty to gain, money or revenge,
he did not mean to say that he was any way
tender; but that it was quite another matter
to be taking to blood as a business for one's
daily bread.

The third convict said that he did not
reckon himself a worse or better Christian
than his neighbour who had last spoken; he
had been bad enough in his time, and thought
it fit now to amend. If he went out into
temptation he could not answer for what
mischief he might do.

Bertram next had liberty to speak, and he
accepted the place without any hesitation.
He was instructed that he had leave to
depart when he chose, and the necessary
passports were immediately given to him,
with a sum of money for his first expenses.
He was ordered to announce himself to the
chief magistrate of the town, when he arrived
at Damburgville, and informed that the
papers necessary to instal him in this office
would at once be drawn out and sent for
signature to the capital, whence they would
be sent in due course to his new employers.
Bertram de' Medici was really free, and
would not waste a moment in delay. He put
off his prison clothes, dressed himself in a
common suit, and made such haste that he
was able to leave his prison home by the first
public conveyance that set out after he had
received his liberty. So he arrived at
Damburgville while he was still in the first flush
of exultation and surprise.

After refreshing himself at an inn, and
paying some attention to his toilet, he went
out, traversing the streets with the gladness
of a child, inquired for the mayor's house,
sent in his highly respectable name on a card,
and was ushered into the drawing-room. It
was with extreme surprise that he found
himself received by the mayor and his family
as a visitor, and treated with respect. Almost
immediately, however, he remembered that
the worthy magistrate could not yet have
received the papers that officially explained
his business in the town. He had followed
orders in presenting himself on his arrival,
but having done that, he was in no hurry to
explain his errand. Having been accustomed
to good society in early life, his manners and
address were such as would very well lend
themselves to the sustainment of his worship
in an error out of which De' Medici proposed
to extract a few days' pleasure. He therefore
did not undeceive the mayor, but suffered
himself to be asked the usual questions as to
what he had seen and wished to see. He also
courteously received the usual offers of assistance
and of introductions. After a pleasant
bit of chat, he took leave, but not before he
had accepted an invitation to meet the family
at the theatre on the succeeding evening, and
to accompany them afterwards to an
entertainment at the house of one of the most
distinguished families residing in the place.

The convict went to bed that night at his
inn, thinking himself a happy fellow, and
slept soundly under that impression. The
following day found him pretty much of the
same opinion. If from time to time a thought
of the near future flashed across him, he
drove it away with the calculation that he
must have two or three clear days in his
power, and that it was his part as a man of
sense simply to make the best use of this
time. Accordingly he spent the morning in
a lounging exploration of the town and
neighbourhood, dined well, amused himself at
billiards, and at length, towards dusk,
sauntered towards his inn, to prepare for the
theatre, and for the ball that was to follow.
As he walked along, his position struck him
for the twentieth time in its amusing point of
view. He enjoyed vastly the idea of the
trick he was about to play the select circles
of Damburgville. There was no chance of
his being recognised; he should feel perfectly
free to act the gentleman among gentlemen
and ladies too. The ladies he quite longed to
meet; for years he had been banished from
their company! But those hard years were
over; he should talk and dance with the
politest. Might he not do more? If he
could set on foot a marriage, no matter with
whom! He had done things more difficult
than that, only his time was very short. If
he could but get it announced publicly in the
Damburgville Argus that a contract was