Life of the last Earl of Stirling

20 THE LAST EARL OF STIRLING.
11 not be allowed a small room to myself on paying for it.
" My inquiry only made the man turn half round and refuse,
''then with a sneer he proceeded to throw a dirty mattress,
" that another person had brought in, upon the bedstead, and
'■' to spread a coarse sheet and blanket (torn and soiled) over
"that, telling me to be quick to get to bed. I had in-
11 stinctively clutched my purse while he was making these
"preparations, and, unseen by him or my fellow-prisoners,
" had wrapped it in my pocket handkerchief which I thrust
" under the bolster. Taking off my coat and boots I got
" hastily into bed without further undressing. The Turnkey
11 stared, but said nothing, though his surly glance and a
"gesture of impatience conveyed sufficiently their meaning to
" my mind.
" In a minute he snatched up the candle and strode from
11 the room, leaving us in pitchy darkness, and I could hear
" the door double-locked and barred on the outside.
" When all was silence and nothing but the hectic cough
" of the consumptive man and the heavy breathing of my
" other neighbour could be heard, I drew my coat from
" the straw-bottomed chair upon which I had laid it, and,
"without making any noise, contrived by degrees to pull
" it under my head. . . . My mind was too much filled
" with unpleasant ideas to think of sleeping, even if I had
" felt secure enough to indulge in repose.
"Two or three hours had lapsed, when I distinctly heard
" one of my companions slowly rise from his bed, then
"the breathing of a person within a few inches of my
" face, then a hand thrust under my bolster, feeling about in
"all directions ! I feigned asleep until the same hand was
" directed downwards to feel in my pockets. I was lying
" upon my handkerchief in which my purse was wrapped,
" and in such a position that the man's fingers tickled me.
"This sensation caused me to move and push away the
"intrusive hand. Fearing, I suppose, that I might suddenly
" awake the hand was withdrawn, and I could hear the
" man retiring to his bed. Another long pause in his
" operations followed, and I was in hopes he would renounce
"his object; but in two or three hours I again heard him
" creep out. He tried, but with more caution, to reach my
" pockets. I feigned an instant to be mumuring in my sleep,
" but all at once started as if sensible of someone touching
" me. The man, on my doing this, slunk away, and
" again I could hear him get into bed and lie down.
"All continued quiet till a glimmering of light shot
"through the small grated widow through the ceiling.
" I happened at this moment to turn my head a little, and,