God, who had not punished him, cannot, will not punish me, who have done nothing." A strange sound attracted the young man's attention.
He looked round him, and saw on the mantel-shelf, just below an enormous crucifix, coarsely painted in fresco on the wall, a rat of enormous size engaged in nibbling a piece of dry bread, but fixing all the time, an intelligent and inquiring look upon the new occupant of the cell.

The king could not resist a sudden impulse of fear and disgust: he moved back towards the door, uttering a loud cry; and as if he but needed this cry, which escaped from his breast almost unconsciously, to recognize himself, Louis knew that he was alive and in full possession of his natural senses.

"A prisoner!" he cried.

"I--I, a prisoner!" He looked round him for a bell to summon some one to him.

"There are no bells in the Bastile," he said, "and it is in the Bastile I am imprisoned.