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the full-grown evil near it, sleeping, ready to sprout in this half-conscious seedling ? There was one experience more, and the night-mare of the morning was ended. From this prison of criminals we were taken to an adjoining building ; and there, in a double row of sunless, silent cells, we were shown the lunatics. There were not many of them. One and all they were old. Each was alone, and if they had not moved occasionally they might almost have passed for parts of the dilapi-dated Avails confining them. I could not learn any-thing about the past lives of any of them, but, judging from their battered aspect, all of them must have long been familiar with some form of misfortune. If this were the case, for one thing they were to be congratulated on their present con-dition ', for madness had taught them what sanity could not teach them—to smile. At luncheon Colonel Falkland questioned me as to what I had seen. I was glad to thrust away from me the oppressive feelings that had been caused by it, and get about one or two points a little practical information. I remarked on the apathy with which the prisoners, those even in the cells, seemed to bear their confinement. ' Yes,' said Colonel Falkland, 'and some of them—though not all—go to the gallows with as little apparent feeling. As for the mere confinement, so long as it is not solitary, I doubt if they mind that. They like doing nothing, and they are able to talk with 168 IN AN ENCHANTED ISLAND

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