“Well,” said the keeper, “that was not true either.”
“No!” said the tribune, with returning interest.
“Hear, and judge for yourself, O tribune.
As required, I visited all the cells, beginning with those on the first floor, and ending with those on the lower.
The order that the door of number V. should not be opened had been respected; through all the eight years food and drink for three men had been passed through a hole in the wall.
I went to the door yesterday, curious to see the wretches who, against all expectation, had lived so long.
The locks refused the key.
We pulled a little, and the door fell down, rusted from its hinges.
Going in, I found but one man, old, blind, tongueless, and naked.
His hair dropped in stiffened mats below his waist.
His skin was like the parchment there.
He held his hands out, and the finger-nails curled and twisted like the claws of a bird.
I asked him where his companions were.
He shook his head in denial.
Thinking to find the others, we searched the cell.
The floor was dry; so were the walls.
If three men had been shut in there, and two of them had died, at least their bones would have endured.”
“Wherefore thou thinkest— ”
“I think, O tribune, there has been but one prisoner there in the eight years.”
The chief regarded the keeper sharply, and said,
“Have a care; thou art more than saying Valerius lied.”
Gesius bowed, but said,
“He might have been mistaken.”
“No, he was right,” said the tribune, warmly. “By thine own statement he was right.
Didst thou not say but now that for eight years food and drink had been furnished three men?”
The bystanders approved the shrewdness of their chief; yet Gesius did not seem discomfited.
“You have but half the story, O tribune.
When you have it all, you will agree with me.
You know what I did with the man: that I sent him to the bath, and had him shorn and clothed, and then took him to the gate of the Tower, and bade him go free. I washed my hands of him.
To-day he came back, and was brought to me.
By signs and tears he at last made me understand he wished to return to his cell, and I so ordered.
As they were leading him off, he broke away and kissed my feet, and, by piteous dumb imploration, insisted I should go with him; and I went.
The mystery of the three men stayed in my mind. I was not satisfied about it.
Now I am glad I yielded to his entreaty.”
The whole company at this point became very still.
“When we were in the cell again, and the prisoner knew it, he caught my hand eagerly, and led me to a hole like that through which we were accustomed to pass him his food.
Though large enough to push your helmet through, it escaped me yesterday.
Still holding my hand, he put his face to the hole and gave a beast-like cry.
A sound came faintly back.
I was astonished, and drew him away, and called out,
‘Ho, here!’
At first there was no answer.
I called again, and received back these words,
‘Be thou praised, O Lord!’
Yet more astonishing, O tribune, the voice was a woman’s.
And I asked,
‘Who are you?’ and had reply, ’A woman of Israel, entombed here with her daughter.
Help us quickly, or we die.’
I told them to be of cheer, and hurried here to know your will.”
The tribune arose hastily.