The Jailer’s Daughter

           OnthesameeveningGryphus,ashebroughttheprisonerhismess,slippedonthedampflagswhilstopeningthedoorofthecell,andfell,intheattempttosteadyhimself,onhishand;butasitwasturnedthewrongway,hebrokehisarmjustabovethewrist.

           Corneliusrushedforwardtowardsthejailer,butGryphus,whowasnotyetawareoftheseriousnatureofhisinjury,calledouttohim,—

           “Itisnothing:don’tyoustir.”

           Hethentriedtosupporthimselfonhisarm,butthebonegaveway;thenonlyhefeltthepain,andutteredacry.

           Whenhebecameawarethathisarmwasbroken,thisman,soharshtoothers,fellswooningonthethreshold,whereheremainedmotionlessandcold,asifdead.

           DuringallthistimethedoorofthecellstoodopenandCorneliusfoundhimselfalmostfree.Butthethoughtneverenteredhismindofprofitingbythisaccident;hehadseenfromthemannerinwhichthearmwasbent,andfromthenoiseitmadeinbending,thatthebonewasfractured,andthatthepatientmustbeingreatpain;andnowhethoughtofnothingelsebutofadministeringrelieftothesufferer,howeverlittlebenevolentthemanhadshownhimselfduringtheirshortinterview.

           AtthenoiseofGryphus’sfall,andatthecrywhichescapedhim,ahastystepwasheardonthestaircase,andimmediatelyafteralovelyapparitionpresenteditselftotheeyesofCornelius.