They arrived at the square in which the Grimshaus was situated.  It was a wild, unhealthy, stern, fantastic pile, which stood, in point of fact, upon an island, for a wide, wet ditch surrounded it, except where a drawbridge connected it with the square.  The towers and ramparts had in some places mouldered away, and huge bars of iron were introduced in different parts of the wall to give strength to the building by binding the yawning mason-work together.

The square was deserted.  The cry of the sentinel at the most distant of the landward posts sounded ominous, like that of a lost bird at night.  Although the moon shone brightly, it was difficult to distinguish the whole outline of the building, on account of the pestiferous vapors which arose from the moat, and hung like a pall over the recently flooded plain.  Through these mists the city chimes sounded muffled and melancholy.  It was solitude—­of all solitude the most fearful—­a prison solitude in the neighborhood of a great town.  The very escort appeared to feel the influence of their melancholy and lonely scene, for the jests stopped as the foot of the vanguard clanged on the drawbridge.  This was merely the effect of discipline; but to Dumiger it appeared a part of the drama, and it added to his sense of fear.

They were detained some time upon the drawbridge while the sergeant was holding some conversation with the officer of the watch.

“By the Holy Mary!” exclaimed the functionary who had arrested Dumiger, “there must be something more than a mere debt in all this.  I never saw such a fuss made about the receipt of the body of a debtor in all my life.  And then, it was rather strange my being ordered to take a file of my guard instead of honest Jean, who would have held him just as firm in his grasp, and not kept my poor fellows shivering out all night in this unhealthy atmosphere.  No, no, there is something more than a debt due:  it is a case of political crime.  Is it not so, my lad?” he exclaimed, giving Dumiger a thump on his back which made the chain-bridge rattle.

“Is it not what?” said Dumiger, who was quite taken by surprise.  He had been gazing on the water, and the purest drops in it were the two tears which had fallen from his eyes.  “I have heard nothing,” he replied.  “What does all this mean, and why am I kept here?”

“Ah, that’s just what I wish to know!” answered the man, “and no one can tell us better than yourself.  It is not merely for a case of debt that I was sent to your house to-night.  No, no, I am wiser than that.  Come now, tell us the real truth.  What conspiracy have you entered into, what political offense have you committed, to entitle you to be escorted with such honor, and be made the subject of so many forms?  There is no use denying it,” he continued, for Dumiger’s astonished countenance was quite a sufficient protestation against any such inference.  “Look here; the lieutenant of the tower has been called up, and the guard is reinforced.”