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four keys like those of the dungeon, which he was to substitute for them; the guards were to be got out of the way on various pretences, and the two fugitives were to mount the horses which would be ready for them, and gallop off to the Saxon town of Gummern. The day was also fixed for carrying this scheme into execution. Being thus, as he fondly imagined, thrice armed against disappointment, he came to a resolution which to every reasonable man must appear extravagant and rash. 'I was vain enough,' he says, 'stupid enough, mad enough, to form the design of casting myself on the generosity and magnanimity of the great Frederick. Should this fail, I still thought my lieutenant a certain saviour.' This singular resolution consisted in disclosing every particular relative to his means of escape through the mine and gallery. He carried it into effect. When the major came to visit the cell, Trenck desired him to inform Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, that the captive would make his appearance on the glacis of Klosterbergen, at whatever hour the prince might please to appoint; in which case he would hope for his highness' protection, and statement of the matter to the king, who would then be convinced of his innocence, and the perfect clearness of his conscience.

The major rode to town with this message, and soon returned with three other officers. The

prisoner was told that all he required had been promised by the prince, on condition of his proving the truth of his assertion; but that, as a breakingout could not be permitted, it would suffice for him to give other proofs of his veracity. After they had made the most solemn promises of good faith, he threw off his chains, raised the flooring, and left nothing unrevealed. They then quitted him for about an hour, came back, and said that the prince was astonished, and wished him all happiness. He was then conducted to the guard-house, where he continued some days; and though the strictest watch was kept upon him, he was treated in a friendly manner, and fared sumptuously. It is probable that the sight of several workmen employed on his dungeon, and carts carrying heavy stones to it, did occasionally excite unpleasant feelings; but it was not till his friend the lieutenant came on guard that Trenck's hopes of freedom were crushed. The officer blamed the disclosure which the captive had made, and assured him that Prince Ferdinand knew nothing of the matter. The report spread in the garrison was, he said, that the prisoner had been detected in making a new attempt. The information given by the lieutenant was correct. Dreading censure for their want of vigilance, the officers had suppressed the captive's message, and stated

that by their diligence he had been caught at work.

Yet, while he was thus mourning over his ruined hopes, and As soon as the dungeon was looking forward to nothing but completed, Trenck was led back a life of monotonous incarcerato it. It had been paved with tion and misery, he was on the enormous flagstones, and ren- eve of being gratified to the full dered impenetrable in every extent of his wishes. On the part. In one point his con- 24th of December 1763, nine dition was amended. Only his months after the close of the ankle was chained to the wall; | war, the day, to accelerate which and though the links were twice he had made almost superhuman as strong as before, the relief struggles, at last dawned upon must have been considerable. him. Reichmann, the deputy While the smith was riveting governor, accompanied by sevethe chain, Trenck vented his in- ral persons, entered his dungeon; dignation in bitter reproaches, their countenances were more and tauntingly declared, that if cheerful than usual. "This time, they were to build their dun- my dear Trenck,' said Reichgeon of steel it would be insuffi- mann, I am the joyful mescient to retain him. The lofty senger of good news. Prince tone of Trenck was prompted Ferdinand has prevailed upon by a firm reliance upon the the king to let your irons be promised aid from the lieuten- taken off.' Accordingly, to work ant. He waited anxiously for went the smith. 'You shall the day when his friend was to also,' continued he, 'have a be on guard; and when that day better apartment.' 'I am free, arrived, his disappointment was then,' said Trenck; but you extreme to see another officer are afraid to tell me too sudinstead of him. Week after denly. Speak! fear not! week he hoped to see the man can moderate my transports.' on whom his liberty depended, "Then you are free!' was the but he saw him no more. reply. When the smith had length he learned that the lieu- ended his work Trenck was tenant had quitted the corps of conducted to the guard-room, grenadiers. The cause of his where he was congratulated by supposed friend's breach of faith everybody, and took the oath he never discovered. It is not which was administered to all unlikely that the officer was in- state prisoners on such occatimidated, or disgusted, by what sions. At the time of his liberahe might consider as the rash tion he was thirty-seven years disclosures which Trenck had of age, eleven years of which made. The defection was se- had been wasted in captivity verely felt by the prisoner; gloom-seventeen months at Glatz, and sadness took possession of and the remainder at Magdehis heart. burg.

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CHAPTER IV.

CASANOVA'S ESCAPE FROM THE STATE PRISON OF VENICE. CASANOVA, whose Christian | tor Bragadino was struck by a

name was John James, and who thought proper to add 'de Seingalt' to his surname, was by birth a Venetian, but claimed to be descended from the ancient Spanish house of Palafox. Talent seems to have been largely bestowed upon his family; his two younger brothers, Francis and John Baptist, attained a high reputation as painters, and the latter is also known as a writer upon pictorial art. John James was born at Venice in 1725; studied at Padua, and distinguished himself by his precocious abilities, and his rapid progress in learning. His wit and conversational powers made him a favourite guest among the patricians of his native city. He was designed for the Church, and had the prospect of rising in it, but his dissipated habits and social intrigues marred his fortunes, and even brought imprisonment upon him.

fit. Casanova boldly prohibited the use of the medicine which the physicians had prescribed, and by his own skill succeeded in recovering the patient. The grateful Bragadino took him into his house, and thenceforth seems to have almost considered him as a son.

But the unsteadiness of Casanova stood in the way of his permanent happiness. He was again under the necessity of quitting his native place, and successively other cities which he visited; and he spent some years in wandering over Italy and visiting Paris, devoting his time chiefly to pleasure and to gaming.

Again Casanova found his way back to Venice, where his converse and social powers pro| cured for him a hearty welcome. But he did not long remain in safety. The malice of an enemy, aided by his own culpable imprudence, at length brought him After a variety of adventures, under the severe lash of the he embarked in 1743 for Con- Venetian government. His disstantinople, where he formed an solute character undoubtedly acquaintance with the cele- | justified suspicion. He conbrated Count Bonneval. A fesses with shameless candour quarrel at Corfu compelled him that he was anything but pious, to return to Venice. There for and that there was not a more a while he gained subsistence determined libertine in Venice. as a violin player. By a lucky It was, however, no love of chance he acquired the friend- | morality that prompted the proship of a rich and powerful ceedings against him. Among Venetian. He happened to be the many individuals whom he present one day when the sena- had offended by his tongue, his

'The labour toward the con

upon the floor of the prison, and this itself was an employ-clusion became so intolerable ment of some hours. The sand as to incite despondency. I was obliged to be thrown out frequently sat contemplating the by the hand, and after it thus heaps of sand, during a molay heaped in my prison, must mentary respite from work; and again be returned into the hole; thinking it impossible I could and I calculated that after I have strength or time again to had proceeded twenty feet, I replace all things as they were, was obliged to creep under resolved patiently to wait the ground in my hole, from 1500 consequence, and leave everyto 2000 fathoms, within twenty- thing in its present disorder. four hours, in the removal and No; I can assure the reader, replacing of the sand. This that to effect concealment, I labour ended, care was to be have scarcely had time in taken that in none of the crevices twenty-four hours to sit down of the floor there might be any and eat a morsel of bread. Reappearance of this fine white collecting, however, the efforts sand. The flooring was next and all the progress I had made, to be exactly replaced, and my hope would again revive, and exchains to be resumed. So hausted strength return. Again severe was the fatigue of one would I begin my labours, that day in this mode, that I was I might preserve my secret and always obliged to rest the three my expectations: yet has it frefollowing. To reduce my labour quently happened, that my visias much as possible, I was contors have entered a few minutes strained to make the passage so after I had reinstated everysmall that my body only had thing in its place. space to pass, and I had not room to draw back my arm to my head. The work, too, must all be done naked, otherwise the dirtiness of my shirt must have been remarked; the sand was wet. At length the expedient of sandbags occurred to me, by which it might be removed out and in more expeditiously. I obtained linen from the officers, and I took my sheets and the ticking that enclosed my straw, and cut them up for sandbags, taking care to lie down on my bed, as if ill, when Buckhausen paid his visit.

'When my work was within six or seven feet of being accomplished, a new misfortune happened, that at once frustrated all further attempts. I worked, as I have said, under the foundation of the rampart near where the sentinels stood. I could disencumber myself of my fetters, except my neck collar and its pendant chain. This, as I worked, though it was fastened, got loose, and the clanking was heard by one of the sentinels about fifteen feet from my dungeon. The officer was called; they laid their ears to the

ground, and heard me as I went backward and forward to bring my earth bags. This was reported the next day; and the major, who was my best friend, with the town-major and a smith and mason, entered my prison. I was terrified. The lieutenant by a sign gave me to understand I was discovered. An examination was begun, but the officers could not see, and the smith and mason found all, as they thought, safe. The sentinel was called, and, "Blockhead, you have heard some mole under ground, and not Trenck." There was now no time for delay. In a few days I could have broken out; but when ready, I was desirous to wait for the visitation day of the man who had treated me so harshly-Bruckhausen, that his own negligence might be evident. The visitation being over, the doors were no sooner barred than I began my supposed last labours. I had only three feet further to proceed, and it was no longer necessary I should bring out the sand, having room to throw it behind me. My evil genius, however, had decreed that the same sentinel who had heard me before should be that day on guard. He was piqued by vanity to prove he was not the blockhead he had been called; he therefore again laid his ear to the ground, and again heard me burrowing.

'He called his comrades first; next the major; he came, and heard me likewise; accordingly

they went without the palisades, and heard me working near the door, at which place I was to break into the gallery. This door they immediately opened, entered the gallery with lanterns, and waited to catch the hunted fox when unearthed.

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'Through the first small breach I made I perceived a light, and saw the heads of those who were expecting me. This was indeed a thunderstroke! I crept back, made my way through the sand I had cast behind me, and awaited my fate with shuddering. had the presence of mind to conceal my pistols, candles, paper, and some money under the floor, which I could remove. The money was disposed of in various holes, well concealed also between the panels of the doors; and under different cracks in the floor I hid my small files and knives. Scarcely were these disposed of before the doors resounded; the floor was covered with sand and sandbags; my handcuffs, however, and the separating bar, I had hastily resumed, that they might suppose I had worked with them on, which they were silly enough to credit, highly to my future advantage.

'No man was more busy on this occasion than the brutal and stupid Bruckhausen, who put many interrogatories, to which I made no reply, except assuring him that I should have completed my work some days sooner, had it not been his good

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