It was a matter of surprise to witness the liberty that was extended to visitors, as well as the prisoner.  He had a guard, it is true, but the steward of the sick rooms had been ordered not to permit any one to enter the apartment without a pass, signed by the Board of Trustees; yet all who wished to visit were allowed a free ingress, and no questions were asked.  I had been taken there at first by Mrs. B., after which I had free access.  But to return.

CHAPTER VI.

The man left there by the doctor, I knew.  After viewing him closely, consider my surprise, when I recognised a person I had known from my first remembrance.  It was the man who was said by his son to have gone up the river, and, as I supposed, had returned home.  It was the usual custom of this man, not to go with his flat boats, but being ladened and committed to skilful pilots, he took passage upon a steamboat and waited their arrival at the place of destination.  He seemed very much disconcerted in my presence, but I said nothing to strengthen his suspicions that I knew him.  He cast several glances at me, at every convenient opportunity.  When he left, it was near night.  I was requested by the colonel to go to my supper and then return.  I went away, and being weary I laid down upon my bed, from which I did not awake till daylight.  On examining my clothes, I found some person had rifled my pockets.  My wallet was robbed of one paper, which contained a list of names, but nothing else.  Fortunately, however, I had written the same on my hat lining.  I expected to have heard something concerning the affair—­especially the record of names, but in this I was happily disappointed.

Having eaten my breakfast, I went to the Custom house.  The United States court was then in session.  Hundreds of the colonel’s acquaintances were there every day.  They were frequently giving their opinions as to the issue of the trial.  Some entertained one opinion and some another,—­their chief conversation was in reference to the two brothers, and their connection with Taylor.  One of the group I discovered was from Lawrenceburgh, Indiana.  I knew them all, and with the exception of this one, they extended to me the hand of friendship.  They seemed glad to see me, and were in fact honest men.  He, however, did not seem friendly, though he did speak, but at the same time gave me a look of disapprobation, as much as to say, you have no right to be in company with such honest men.  I paid no attention to his looks, as I knew him better than any man in the crowd.  He knew he had laid himself liable to detection, and hence did not wish me to be in communication with his old friends, lest I might become an informant.  He rather desired to have them discard me, but as they were upright, unsuspecting men, they did not give heed to his conduct.  They conversed freely, and tried in every way to amuse me.  At length he discovered there was a growing sympathy in my favour, and assumed another attitude to secure my departure.  He began to talk somewhat in the following strain.