Bug-Jargal - Paperback

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... book except to an educated man. Claude could neither sew nor read. As he was passing through the old, discredited, whitewashed cloister, which was used as a place to walk in winter, he approached the convict Ferrari, who was gaziug at the huge bars at one of the windows. (Claude had the little pair of scissors in his hand, and showed them to Ferrari. "To-night," he said, "I '11 cut yon bars with these scissors." Ferrari began to laugh incredulously, and Claude joined him. j That morning he worked with more energy than usual; never had he done his work so quickly and so well. He seemed to be determined to finish before noon a straw hat which a worthy citizen of Troyes, M. Bressier, had paid him for in advance. [A little before noon he made an excuse for going down to the cabinet-making shop on the groundfloor, below the shop in which he worked. Claude was beloved there as elsewhere, but he rarely went there. "Hallo! here's Claude!" the prisoners exclaimed. They surrounded him. It was a holiday for them. Claude cast a rapid glance through the room. Not one of the overseers was there. "Who has a hatchet he will loan me?" he said. "What for?" some one asked him. He replied: -- "To kill the superintendent of the shops to-night." Several hatchets were offered him to select from. He took the smallest, which was very sharp, hid it in his trousers and went out. There were twentyseven prisoners. He did not ask them to keep his secret. They all kept it.) They did not even talk of the thing among themselves. Each one waited to see what would happen. -It was a terrible affair, but perfectly simple and direct. There was no possible complication. They could not advise Claude, and would not betray him. An hour later, he went up to a young convict of sixteen years, who was yawni...