his education, which had been interrupted by the revolution. "My passion
for study," he says, "was carried to such an extent, that I felt pain
and regret whenever I did not devote to it, either in reading or
writing, fourteen hours a-day. During the three years of my
imprisonment, my application was unremitting, and I owe to it that I did
not fall into the habits, so common to prisoners, of smoking and
drinking."

Most graphically told, the chapters relating to General Pépé's
imprisonment, are as amusing as any romance. More than once did he and
his fellow-captive muse over an escape, and ponder its possibilities.
These were very remote. At last they devised a plan, which they thought
would ensure their transfer to a less rigorous confinement, whence they
might find means of flight. Twenty galley slaves were imprisoned in the
castle. At night they occupied the same apartment with Pépé; in the
day-time they were set to work in different parts of the fortress. These
men were easily persuaded to adopt an ingenious plan of escape devised
by Pépé, who, with his friend, was to remain behind, "upon the plea
that, as the government attached far more importance to the custody of
state prisoners, than to that of common criminals, our company would
prove more dangerous than useful to them." The fact was, that the
chances were a hundred to one against the escape. Nevertheless it was
accomplished, although the fugitives, with one exception, were promptly
retaken. Pépé and his companion now made a merit of not having
participated in it, and wrote to their friends at Naples, entreating
them to urge their release. This would hardly have been obtained but for
the outbreak of hostilities. Ferdinand, without waiting to see the
result of the struggle between Austria, Russia, and France, declared
against the latter power. He soon had reason to repent his
precipitation. The crushing campaign of Austerlitz, followed by the