was placed, and, hoping to soften his judge, fell on his knees before him.  But the inquisitor commanded him to rise, asked whether he knew the reason of his arrest, and advised him to declare it at large, as that was the only way to obtain a speedy release.  Dellon caught at the hope of release, began to tell his tale, mixed with tears and protestations, again fell at the feet of Don Francisco Delgado Ematos, the inquisitor, and implored his favorable attention.  Don Francisco told him, very coolly, that he had other business on hand, and, nothing moved, rang a silver bell.  The alcayde entered, led the prisoner out into a gallery, opened, and searched his trunk, stripped him of every valuable, wrote an inventory, assured him that all should be safely kept, and then led him to a cell about ten feet square, and left him there, shut up in utter solitude.  In the evening they brought him his first meal, which he ate heartily, and slept a little during the night following.  Next morning he learnt that he could have no part of his property, not even a breviary was, in that place, allowed to a priest, for they had no form of religion there, and for that reason he could not have a book.  His hair was cropped close; and therefore “he did not need a comb.”

“Thus began his acquaintance with the holy house, which he describes as “great and magnificent,” on one side of the great space before the church of St Catharine.  There were three gates in front; and, it was by the central, or largest, that the prisoners entered, and mounted a stately flight of steps, leading into the great hall.  The side gates provided entrance to spacious ranges of apartments, belonging to the inquisitors.  Behind the principal building, was another, very spacious, two stories high, and consisting of double rows of cells, opening into galleries that ran from end to end.  The cells on the ground-floor were very small, without any aperture from without for light or air.  Those of the upper story were vaulted, white-washed, had a small strongly grated window, without glass, and higher than the tallest man could reach.  Towards the gallery every cell was shut with two doors, one on the inside, the other one outside of the wall.  The inner door folded, was grated at the bottom, opened towards the top for the admission of food and was made fast with very strong bolts.  The outer door was not so thick, had no window, but was left open from six o’clock every morning until eleven—­a necessary arrangement in that climate, unless it were intended to destroy life by suffocation.

“To each prisoner was given as earthen pot with water wherewith to wash, another full of water to drink, with a cup; a broom, a mat whereon to lie, and a large basin with a cover, changed every fourth day.  The prisoners had three meals a day; and their health so far as food could contribute to it in such a place, was cared for in the provision of a wholesome, but spare diet.  Physicians were at hand to render all necessary assistance to the