any one enter my dungeon, they must infallibly discover the breach.
How dreadful is the destiny by which, through life, I have been
persecuted, and which has continually plunged me headlong into
calamity, when I imagined happiness was at hand!

The 27th of May was a cruel day in the history of my life. My cell
in the Star-Fort had been finished sooner than Gelfhardt had
supposed; and at night, when I was preparing to fly, I heard a
carriage stop before my prison. O God! what was my terror, what
were the horrors of this moment of despair! The locks and bolts
resounded, the doors flew open, and the last of my poor remaining
resources was to conceal my knife. The town-major, the major of the
day, and a captain entered; I saw them by the light of their two
lanterns. The only words they spoke were, "Dress yourself," which
was immediately done. I still wore the uniform of the regiment of
Cordova. Irons were given me, which I was obliged myself to fasten
on my wrists and ankles; the town-major tied a bandage over my eyes,
and, taking me under the arm, they thus conducted me to the
carriage. It was necessary to pass through the city to arrive at
the Star-Fort; all was silent, except the noise of the escort; but
when we entered Magdeburg I heard the people running, who were
crowding together to obtain a sight of me. Their curiosity was
raised by the report that I was going to be beheaded. That I was
executed on this occasion in the Star-Fort, after having been
conducted blindfold through the city, has since been both affirmed
and written; and the officers had then orders to propagate this
error that the world might remain in utter ignorance concerning me.
I, indeed, knew otherwise, though I affected not to have this
knowledge; and, as I was not gagged, I behaved as if I expected
death, reproached my conductors in language that even made them