THE liberation of our two companions brought no alteration in the
discipline observed towards us. Why, we asked ourselves, were they set
at liberty, condemned as they had been, like us, the one to twenty, the
other to fifteen years’ imprisonment, while no sort of favour was shown
to the rest?
Were the suspicions against those who were still consigned to captivity
more strong, or did the disposition to pardon the whole, at brief
intervals of time, and two together, really exist? We continued in
suspense for some time. Upwards of three months elapsed, and we heard of
no fresh instances of pardon. Towards the end of 1827, we considered
that December might be fixed on as the anniversary of some new
liberations; but the month expired, and nothing of the kind occurred.
Still we indulged the expectation until the summer of 1828, when I had
gone through seven years and a half of my punishment—equivalent,
according to the Emperor’s declaration, to the fifteen, if the infliction
of it were to be dated from the term of my arrest. If, on the other
hand, it were to be calculated, not from the period of my trial, as was
most probable, but from that of the publication of my sentence, the seven
years and a half would only be completed in 1829.
Yet all these periods passed over, and there was no appearance of a
remittance of punishment. Meantime, even before the liberation of Solera
and Fortini, Maroncelli was ill with a bad tumour upon his knee. At
first the pain was not great, and he only limped as he walked. It then
grew very irksome to him to bear his irons, and he rarely went out to
walk. One autumnal morning he was desirous of breathing the fresh air;
there was a fall of snow, and unfortunately in walking his leg failed
him, and he came to the ground. This accident was followed by acute pain
in his knee. He was carried to his bed; for he was no longer able to
remain in an upright position. When the physician came, he ordered his
irons to be taken off; but the swelling increased to an enormous size,
and became more painful every day. Such at length were the sufferings of
my unhappy friend, that he could obtain no rest either in bed or out of
it. When compelled to move about, to rise or to lie down, it was
necessary to take hold of the bad leg and carry it as he went with the
utmost care; and the most trifling motion brought on the most severe
pangs. Leaches, baths, caustics, and fomentations of different kinds,
were all found ineffectual, and seemed only to aggravate his torments.
After the use of caustics, suppuration followed; the tumour broke out
into wounds, but even these failed to bring relief to the suffering
patient.
Maroncelli was thus far more unfortunate than myself, although my
sympathy for him caused me real pain and suffering, I was glad, however,
to be near him, to attend to all his wants, and to perform all the duties
of a brother and a friend. It soon became evident that his leg would
never heal: he considered his death as near at hand, and yet he lost
nothing of his admirable calmness or his courage. The sight of his
sufferings at last was almost more than I could bear.