and having seen the monster lay himself at length, and thinking
now that a fit occasion offered in which to comfort and refresh
his long-expecting friend, was hastening with it to the cell where
the faithful Fidus was confined. At the fatal moment the giant,
rearing himself up on his couch, perceived the little Mignon just
at the entrance of the cell; when calling to him in a hollow
voice, that dismally resounded through the cave, he so startled
the poor unhappy page, that he dropped the cover from his
trembling hand and stood fixed and motionless as a statue.

'Come hither, Mignon, caitiff, dwarf,' said then the taunting
homicide: but the poor little creature was so thunderstruck he
was quite unable to stir one foot. Whereat the giant, rousing
himself from off his couch, with one huge stride reached out his
brawny arm, and seized him by the waist; and, pointing to the
scattered delicates, cried out, 'Vile miscreant! is it thus thou
hast obeyed my orders? Is this the mouldy bread and muddy water,
with which alone it was my command thou shouldst sustain that puny
mortal? But I'll--' Here raising him aloft, he was about to dash
him to the ground, when suddenly revolving in his wicked thoughts,
that if at once he should destroy his patient slave, his cruelty
to him must also have an end, he paused--and then recovering, he
stretched out his arm, and bringing the little trembler near his
glaring eyes, he thus subjoins: 'No; I'll not destroy thy
wretched life; but thou shalt waste thy weary days in a dark
dungeon, as far remote from the least dawn of light as from thy
loved companion. And I myself will carefully supply you both so
equally with mouldy bread and water, that each by his own
sufferings shall daily know what his dear friend endures.' So
saying, he hastened with him to his deepest dungeon; and having