'You be late in your rounds to-night,' said the porter, who dozed at the fire.

I grunted in reply, and sat beside him till he was well asleep.

Then I slipped the great key from his belt, and bade him good-night, to which he muttered something.

At the great gate stood a young sentry, who, seeing me to be a warder, asked me where I went at that hour.

I told him a state prisoner was very sick and I was bidden by the leech go to the druggist for a plaster.