atthe
years
of
discretion
,
which
should
have
taught
you
to
reflect
that
no
deceit
can
be
designed
for
a
good
purpose
.
Your
readiness
to
confess
your
guilt
—
the
testimony
of
your
fellow
prisoner
in
your
behalf
—
the
recommendation
of
the
jury
—
and
the
intercession
of
the
prosecutor
,
however
,
weigh
with
the
court
.
Still
a
severe
punishment
must
be
awarded
you
;
for
if
we
were
to
admit
the
plea
that
a
person
between
twenty
and
thirty
is
not
responsible
for
his
or
her
actions
,
justice
would
in
numerous
cases
be
defeated
,
and
crime
would
find
constant
apologies
and
extenuation
.
The
sentence
of
the
court
is
that
you
be
imprisoned
for
the
space
of
two
years
in
her
Majesty
's
gaol
of
Newgate
.
"
Eliza
had
anticipated
transportation
:
she
had
made
up
her
mind
to
banishment
for
at
least
seven
years
,
from
her
native
clime
.
The
observation
of
the
Judge
that
"
a
severe
punishment
must
be
awarded
her
,
"
had
confirmed
her
in
that
impression
.
The
concluding
words
of
that
functionary
had
therefore
taken
her
by
surprise
—
a
surprise
so
sudden
that
it
overcame
her
.
She
tottered
,
and
would
have
fallen
;
but
she
felt
herself
suddenly
supported
in
the
arms
of
a
female
,
who
conducted
her
to
a
seat
in
the
dock
,
and
whispered
kind
and
consolatory
words
in
her
ear
.
Eliza
raised
her
eyes
towards
the
countenance
of
this
unexpected
friend
;
and
,
to
her
astonishment
,
encountered
the
soft
and
sympathising
glance
of
Diana
Arlington
.
"
Do
not
be
alarmed
,
Miss
Sydney
,
"
whispered
the
Enchantress
:
"
the
Earl
of
Warrington
will
do
more
for
you
than
you
may
anticipate
.
He
will
use
his
influence
with
the
Home
Secretary
,
and
obtain
a
mitigation
of
your
sentence
.
"
"
Oh
!
how
kind
in
him
thus
to
interest
himself
in
my
behalf
,
"
murmured
Eliza
;
"
and
I
—
who
am
so
unworthy
of
his
commiseration
!
"
"
Do
not
say
that
!
we
have
made
enquiries
,
and
we
have
found
how
you
have
been
deceived
.
We
have
seen
your
faithful
servant
Louisa
;
and
she
has
told
us
enough
to
convince
us
that
you
was
more
to
be
pitied
than
blamed
.
One
thing
I
have
to
communicate
which
will
console
you
—
I
have
taken
Louisa
into
my
service
!
"
"
A
thousand
thanks
,
my
dear
madam
,
"
said
Eliza
.
"
The
thought
of
what
was
to
become
of
her
has
made
me
very
unhappy
.
This
is
indeed
one
subject
of
comfort
.
But
I
saw
Louisa
yesterday
:
why
did
she
keep
me
in
the
dark
in
this
respect
?
"
"
We
enjoined
her
to
maintain
the
strictest
silence
,
"
returned
Mrs.
Arlington
.
"
We
were
determined
to
see
how
you
would
act
up
to
the
very
last
moment
in
this
distressing
business
,
ere
we
allowed
you
to
know
that
you
had
friends
who
cared
for
you
.
"
"
And
how
have
I
obtained
this
generous
sympathy
?
"
enquired
Eliza
,
pressing
Diana
's
hand
with
an
effusion
of
gratitude
.
"
The
Earl
loved
your
mother
,
and
blames
himself
for
his
neglect
of
her
children
,
whose
welfare
would
have
been
dear
to
his
deceased
uncle
,
"
said
Diana
gravely
.
"
And
for
myself
,
"
she
added
,
blushing
—
"
anything
which
interests
the
Earl
,
also
interests
me
.
"
"
Believe
me
,
I
shall
never
forget
this
kindness
on
your
part
:
—
neither
shall
I
ever
be
able
to
repay
it
,
"
observed
Eliza
.
"
I
am
now
going
to
a
protracted
incarceration
,
in
a
terrible
prison
,
"
she
continued
mournfully
,
—
"
and
God
only
knows
whether
I
may
survive
it
.
But
until
the
day
of
my
death
shall
I
pray
for
you
and
that
good
nobleman
who
forgives
,
pities
,
and
consoles
me
.
"
"
He
does
—
he
does
,
"
said
Mrs.
Arlington
,
deeply
affected
:
"
but
fancy
not
that
your
confinement
will
pass
without
being
relieved
by
the
visits
of
friends
.
I
shall
call
and
see
you
as
often
as
the
regulations
of
the
prison
will
permit
;
and
I
again
renew
the
promise
which
the
Earl
has
authorised
me
to
make
relative
to
his
intercession
with
the
Secretary
of
State
in
your
favour
.
"
Eliza
again
poured
forth
her
gratitude
to
Diana
,
and
they
then
separated
.
The
former
was
conveyed
back
to
Newgate
:
the
latter
hastened
to
the
humble
hackney-coach
which
she
had
purposely
hired
to
take
her
to
the
Old
Bailey
.
As
soon
as
the
case
of
Stephens
,
Mac
Chizzle
,
and
Eliza
Sydney
was
disposed
of
,
William
Bolter
was
placed
at
the
bar
to
take
his
trial
for
the
murder
of
his
wife
.
"
The
miscreant
"
—
as
the
newspapers
had
called
him
all
along
—
wore
a
sullen
and
hardened
appearance
;
and
pleaded
Not
Guilty
in
a
brutal
and
ferocious
manner
.
The
only
feature
of
interest
in
the
case
was
the
examination
of
his
son
—
his
little
son
—
as
a
witness
against
him
.
The
poor
boy
seemed
to
comprehend
the
fearful
position
in
which
his
father
was
placed
;
for
he
gave
his
evidence
with
the
utmost
reluctance
.
There
was
,
however
,
a
sufficiency
of
testimony
,
direct
and
circumstantial
,
to
induce
the
jury
to
find
the
prisoner
guilty
without
a
moment
's
hesitation
.
The
Judge
put
on
the
black
cap
,
and
proceeded
to
pass
upon
the
culprit
the
awful
sentence
of
the
law
.
Having
expatiated
upon
the
enormity
of
the
prisoner
's
guilt
,
and
admonished
him
to
use
the
little
time
that
remained
to
him
in
this
world
for
the
purpose
of
making
his
peace
with
heaven
,
he
sentenced
William
Bolter
to
be
taken
back
again
to
the
place
from
whence
he
came
,
and
thence
to
a
place
of
execution
,
where
he
was
to
be
hanged
by
the
neck
until
he
should
be
dead
.
"
And
may
the
Lord
,
"
added
the
Judge
solemnly
,
"
have
mercy
upon
your
soul
.
"
There
was
some
years
ago
,
amongst
ruffians
of
the
very
worst
description
,
a
custom
of
abusing
the
Judge
,
or
"
blackguarding
the
Beak
,
"
as
it
was
called
,
when
they
received
the
award
due
to
their
crimes
,
in
the
felon
's
dock
.
This
miserable
and
vain
bravado
—
an
affectation
of
recklessness
which
even
the
most
hardened
could
scarcely
feel
—
was
revived
by
Bill
Bolter
upon
the
present
occasion
.
"
Taking
a
sight
"
at
the
Judge
,
the
murderer
commenced
a
string
of
horrible
abuse
—
laden
with
imprecations
and
epithets
of
a
most
shocking
and
filthy
nature
.
A
shudder
passed
through
the
audience
as
if
it
were
one
man
,
at
that
revolting
display
on
the
part
of
a
wretch
who
stood
upon
the
edge
of
the
tomb
!
The
officers
of
the
court
speedily
interfered
to
put
an
end
to
the
sad
scene
;
and
the
convict
,
after
a
desperate
resistance
,
was
carried
back
to
Newgate
,
where
he
was
lodged
in
one
of
the
condemned
cells
.
While
these
important
cases
were
being
disposed
of
in
the
Old
Court
,
two
others
,
which
it
is
necessary
to
notice
,
were
adjudicated
upon
in
the
New
Court
before
the
Recorder
.
The
first
was
that
of
Thomas
Armstrong
,
who
was
fortunate
enough
to
be
acquitted
for
want
of
evidence
,
George
Montague
,
a
principal
witness
against
him
,
not
appearing
;
—
the
other
was
that
of
Crankey
Jem
and
the
Resurrection
Man
.
It
is
needless
to
enter
into
particulars
in
this
matter
:
suffice
it
to
say
that
the
former
was
convicted
of
a
daring
burglary
,
upon
the
testimony
of
the
latter
who
turned
King
's
evidence
.
Crankey
Jem
was
sentenced
to
transportation
for
life
,
he
having
been
previously
convicted
of
serious
offences
;
and
the
Resurrection
Man
was
sent
back
to
Newgate
to
be
discharged
at
the
termination
of
the
sessions
.
The
business
of
the
Court
was
concluded
in
a
few
days
;
and
Richard
was
removed
to
the
Giltspur
Street
Compter
.
There
he
was
dressed
in
the
prison
garb
,
and
forced
to
submit
to
a
régime
peculiarly
trying
to
the
constitution
of
those
who
have
been
accustomed
to
tender
nurture
.
The
gruel
,
which
constituted
his
principal
aliment
,
created
a
nausea
upon
his
stomach
;
the
thin
and
weak
soup
was
far
from
satisfying
the
cravings
of
the
appetite
;
the
bread
was
good
,
but
doled
out
in
miserably
small
quantities
;
and
the
meat
seemed
only
offered
to
tantalise
or
provoke
acuteness
of
hunger
.
The
Resurrection
Man
was
set
at
liberty
.
Stephens
,
Mac
Chizzle
,
and
Crankey
Jem
were
removed
to
the
hulks
at
Woolwich
,
previous
to
the
sailing
of
a
convict-ship
for
New
South
Wales
.
Eliza
Sydney
remained
in
Newgate
.
Bill
Bolter
,
the
murderer
,
also
stayed
for
a
short
season
in
the
condemned
cell
of
that
fearful
prison
.
CHAPTER
XXXIV
.
THE
LESSON
INTERRUPTED
.
THE
moment
the
trial
of
Richard
Markham
was
concluded
,
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
and
Mr.
Chichester
bade
a
cold
and
hasty
adieu
to
Mr.
Talbot
,
and
left
the
court
together
.
They
wended
their
way
up
the
Old
Bailey
,
turned
into
Newgate
Street
,
and
thence
proceeded
down
Butcher-hall
Lane
towards
Bartholomew
Close
;
for
in
that
large
dreary
Square
did
Mr.
Chichester
now
occupy
a
cheap
lodging
.
This
lodging
consisted
of
a
couple
of
small
and
ill-furnished
rooms
on
the
second
floor
.
When
the
two
gentlemen
arrived
there
,
it
was
past
five
o'clock
—
for
the
trial
had
lasted
the
entire
day
;
and
a
dirty
cloth
was
laid
for
dinner
in
the
front
apartment
.
Black-handled
knives
and
forks
,
a
japanned
pepper-box
,
pewter
saltcellar
and
mustard
pot
,
and
common
white
plates
with
a
blue
edge
,
constituted
the
"
service
.
"
The
dinner
itself
was
equally
humble
—
consisting
of
mutton-chops
and
potatoes
,
flanked
by
a
pot
of
porter
.
The
baronet
and
the
fashionable
gentleman
took
their
seats
in
silence
,
and
partook
of
the
meal
without
much
appetite
.
There
was
a
damp
upon
their
spirits
:
they
were
not
so
utterly
depraved
as
to
be
altogether
unmindful
of
the
detestable
part
they
had
played
towards
Markham
;
and
their
own
affairs
were
moreover
in
a
desperate
condition
.
A
slip-shod
,
dirty
,
familiar
girl
cleared
away
the
dinner
things
;
and
the
gentlemen
then
took
to
gin-and-water
and
cigars
.
For
some
minutes
they
smoked
in
silence
;
till
at
length
the
baronet
,
stamping
his
foot
impatiently
upon
the
floor
,
exclaimed
,
"
My
God
!
Chichester
,
is
nothing
to
be
done
?
"
"
I
really
do
n't
know
,
"
answered
that
individual
.
"
You
heard
how
deucedly
I
got
exposed
to-day
in
the
witness-box
;
and
after
that
I
should
not
dare
show
up
at
the
west-end
for
weeks
and
months
to
come
—
even
if
the
sheriff
's
officers
were
n't
looking
out
for
me
.
"
"
Well
,
something
must
be
done
,
"
observed
the
baronet
.
"
Here
am
I
,
playing
at
hide-and-seek
as
well
as
you
—
all
my
horses
sold
—
my
furniture
seized
—
my
carriages
made
away
with
—
my
plate
pawned
—
and
not
a
guinea
—
not
a
guinea
left
!
"
"
What
should
you
say
to
a
trip
into
the
country
?
"
demanded
Chichester
,
after
a
pause
.
"
London
is
too
hot
for
both
of
us
—
at
least
for
the
present
;
indeed
my
surprise
is
that
we
were
not
arrested
on
those
infernal
bills
,
coming
out
of
the
court
.
But
,
as
I
was
saying
—
a
trip
into
the
country
might
do
more
good
.
To
be
sure
,
this
is
no
time
for
the
watering
places
:
we
might
,
however
,
pay
a
visit
to
Hastings
,
Bath
,
and
Cheltenham
on
a
venture
.
"
"
And
what
could
we
do
for
ourselves
there
?
"
"
Why
—
pick
up
flats
,
to
be
sure
!
"
"
You
know
,
Chichester
,
that
I
am
not
able
to
work
the
cards
and
dice
as
you
can
.
"
"
Then
you
must
learn
,
as
I
did
.
"
"
And
who
will
teach
me
?
"
"
Why
—
myself
,
to
be
sure
!
Could
you
have
a
better
master
than
Arthur
Chichester
?
"
"
But
it
would
take
so
long
to
understand
all
these
manœuvres
—
I
should
never
have
the
patience
.
"
"
Oh
!
nonsense
,
Harborough
.
Come
—
what
do
you
say
?
Three
days
'
practice
,
and
we
will
be
off
?
"
"
But
the
money
—
the
funds
to
move
with
?
"
cried
the
baronet
,
impatiently
.
"
I
am
literally
reduced
to
my
last
guinea
.
"
"
Oh
!
as
for
that
,
"
returned
Chichester
,
"
I
will
engage
to
get
a
twenty
pound
note
from
my
father
to-morrow
;
and
with
that
supply
we
can
safely
start
off
on
our
expedition
.
"
"
Well
—
if
you
can
rely
upon
doing
this
,
"
observed
the
baronet
,
"
we
will
put
your
plan
into
execution
.
So
let
us
lose
no
time
;
but
please
to
give
me
my
first
lesson
.
"
"
That
's
what
I
call
business
,
"
cried
Chichester
,
rising
from
his
seat
and
drawing
the
curtains
,
while
the
baronet
lighted
the
two
tallow
candles
that
adorned
the
wooden
mantel-piece
.
Chichester
locked
the
door
of
the
room
,
and
then
produced
from
his
writing-desk
the
necessary
implements
of
a
gambler
—
packs
of
cards
,
dice-boxes
,
and
dice
.
Having
reseated
himself
,
he
took
up
a
pair
of
dice
and
a
box
,
and
said
,
"
Now
,
my
dear
fellow
,
be
a
good
boy
,
and
learn
your
lesson
well
.
You
will
soon
meet
with
your
reward
.
"
"
I
am
all
attention
,
"
observed
the
baronet
.
"
In
the
first
place
I
shall
show
you
how
to
secure
,
"
continued
Chichester
;
"
and
as
you
know
the
game
of
Hazard
well
enough
,
I
need
say
but
little
more
on
that
head
.
There
are
two
ways
of
securing
.
The
first
is
to
hold
one
of
the
dice
between
the
fore
and
middle
fingers
,
or
the
middle
and
third
fingers
,
against
the
side
of
the
box
,
so
that
one
finger
must
cover
the
top
of
the
die
—
in
this
way
,
you
see
.
"
"
I
understand
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
attentively
watching
the
proceedings
of
his
companion
,
who
by
certain
clever
and
adroit
manipulations
with
the
dice-box
,
illustrated
his
oral
descriptions
.
"
This
system
is
not
so
easy
as
the
second
,
which
I
shall
presently
show
you
,
"
continued
Chichester
;
"
because
the
die
must
be
kept
cleverly
inside
the
box
,
so
as
not
to
be
seen
.
The
second
way
of
securing
is
by
taking
hold
of
one
of
the
dice
by
the
little
finger
,
and
keeping
it
firm
against
the
palm
of
the
hand
while
you
shake
the
box
,
so
as
to
be
able
to
drop
it
skilfully
upon
the
table
at
the
proper
moment
,
when
it
will
seem
as
if
it
came
from
the
box
along
with
the
other
.
This
is
the
way
.
"
"
I
shall
soon
understand
,
"
said
the
baronet
.
"
Of
course
by
being
able
to
secure
one
die
,
you
may
make
it
turn
up
any
number
you
choose
.
"
"
When
you
mean
to
practise
this
dodge
,
"
continued
Chichester
,
"
call
five
for
a
main
;
because
you
can
secure
the
four
,
and
there
is
only
the
six
on
the
loose
die
that
can
come
up
against
you
.
If
you
have
a
good
stake
to
get
,
secure
a
five
every
time
;
because
when
the
main
is
six
to
five
,
or
seven
to
five
,
or
eight
to
five
,
or
nine
to
five
,
or
ten
to
five
,
you
must
win
every
time
,
because
you
ca
n't
possibly
throw
out
while
the
five
is
secured
.
"
"
But
will
not
the
ear
tell
the
pigeon
that
there
is
only
one
die
rattling
in
the
box
?
"
demanded
the
baronet
.
"
Look
at
this
box
,
"
exclaimed
Chichester
.
"
It
has
two
rims
cut
inside
,
near
the
bottom
:
the
one
die
shaking
against
them
produces
the
sound
of
two
dice
.
"
"
Are
there
not
some
peculiarities
about
these
dice
?
"
asked
Sir
Rupert
,
pointing
to
a
pair
which
Chichester
had
placed
apart
from
the
rest
.
"
Yes
—
those
are
unequal
dice
,
and
are
so
well
made
that
no
one
,
except
a
regular
sharper
,
could
detect
them
.
They
are
bigger
at
one
end
than
the
other
,
and
the
sixes
are
placed
on
the
smaller
squares
,
because
you
must
play
with
these
dice
to
win
upon
high
numbers
,
which
are
on
those
smaller
squares
.
The
dice
will
in
nine
cases
out
of
ten
fall
upon
the
larger
squares
,
and
thus
show
the
high
numbers
uppermost
.
"
"
And
these
dice
?
"
enquired
the
baronet
,
taking
up
two
others
.
"
Loaded
ones
,
"
replied
Chichester
.
"
These
are
to
throw
low
;
and
so
the
two
sides
which
have
got
four
and
five
on
them
are
loaded
.
"
"
How
are
they
loaded
?
"
asked
Sir
Rupert
.
"
The
corner
pip
of
the
four
side
,
next
to
the
five
side
,
is
bored
very
neatly
to
a
certain
depth
:
the
same
is
done
to
the
corner
pip
of
the
five
side
,
adjoining
the
four
side
.
Thus
the
two
holes
,
so
bored
,
meet
each
other
at
right
angles
.
One
of
the
holes
is
covered
over
with
some
strong
cement
:
quicksilver
is
then
poured
in
;
and
the
other
hole
is
covered
over
with
the
cement
.
The
spots
are
blackened
;
and
your
dice
are
ready
for
use
.
These
being
intended
to
throw
low
,
you
must
call
a
main
,
and
take
the
odds
accordingly
.
"
"
Well
,
"
said
the
baronet
,
"
I
think
I
can
now
safely
say
that
I
know
enough
of
the
elements
of
your
grammar
to
enable
me
to
practise
myself
.
Let
us
devote
half
an
hour
to
the
working
of
cards
.
"
"
The
ways
of
managing
the
cards
,
"
said
Chichester
,
taking
up
a
pack
,
and
shuffling
them
,
"
are
numerous
.
These
,
for
instance
,
are
Longs
and
Shorts
.
All
the
cards
above
the
eight
,
are
the
least
thing
longer
than
those
below
it
.
I
have
a
machine
which
was
invented
on
purpose
to
cut
them
accurately
.
Nothing
under
an
eight
can
be
cut
,
you
see
,
with
these
cards
,
lengthways
.
"
"
And
that
pack
so
carefully
wrapped
up
in
the
paper
?
"
"
Oh
!
these
are
my
Concaves
and
Convexes
.
All
from
the
two
to
the
seven
are
cut
concave
;
and
all
from
the
eight
to
the
king
are
cut
convex
.
By
cutting
the
pack
breadthways
a
convex
card
is
cut
;
by
cutting
it
lengthways
,
a
concave
one
is
secured
.
"
"
I
have
often
heard
of
the
bridge
,
"
said
Sir
Rupert
;
"
what
does
that
mean
?
"
"
Oh
!
the
bridge
is
simply
and
easily
done
,
"
replied
Chichester
,
shuffling
the
pack
which
he
held
in
his
hand
.
"
You
see
it
is
nothing
but
slightly
curving
a
card
,
and
introducing
it
carelessly
into
the
pack
.
Shuffle
the
cards
as
your
opponent
will
,
you
are
sure
to
be
able
to
cut
the
bridged
one
.
"
"
I
could
do
that
without
study
,
"
observed
Sir
Rupert
Harborough
.
"
Is
my
initiation
now
complete
?
"
"
There
are
several
other
schemes
with
the
cards
,
"
answered
Chichester
,
"
but
I
think
that
I
have
taught
you
enough
for
this
evening
.
One
famous
device
,
however
,
must
not
be
forgotten
.
You
have
heard
of
the
way
in
which
Lord
de
Roos
lately
attempted
to
cheat
his
noble
companions
at
the
club
?
The
plan
practised
by
him
is
called
sauter
la
coupe
,
and
enables
the
dealer
to
do
what
he
chooses
with
one
particular
card
,
which
of
course
he
has
selected
for
this
purpose
.
Now
look
how
it
is
done
;
for
I
can
better
show
practically
than
explain
verbally
.
"
Scarcely
was
this
portion
of
the
lesson
accomplished
,
when
steps
were
heard
ascending
the
stairs
;
and
immediately
afterwards
a
heavy
fist
knocked
with
more
violence
than
courtesy
at
the
parlour
door
.
The
baronet
and
Chichester
both
turned
pale
.
"
They
ca
n't
have
found
us
out
here
?
"
murmured
the
one
to
the
other
in
a
hoarse
and
tremulous
tone
.
"
What
shall
we
do
?
"
"
We
must
open
—
happen
what
will
.
"
Chichester
unlocked
the
door
:
two
ill-looking
men
entered
the
room
.
"
Mr.
Arthur
Chichester
?
"
said
one
.
"
He
is
n't
here
—
we
do
n't
know
him
.
My
name
is
Davis
—
ask
the
landlady
if
it
is
not
,
"
cried
Chichester
hurriedly
,
and
in
a
manner
which
only
served
to
convince
the
officer
that
he
was
right
.
"
Come
—
come
,
none
of
that
there
gammon
,
"
said
the
bailiff
.
"
I
knows
you
well
enough
:
my
name
's
Garnell
;
and
I
'll
stand
the
risk
of
your
being
Chichester
.
Here
's
execution
out
against
you
for
four
hundred
and
forty-seven
pounds
.
I
do
n't
suppose
that
you
can
pay
—
so
you
'd
better
come
off
at
once
.
"
"
Where
to
?
"
demanded
Chichester
,
seeing
that
it
was
no
use
disputing
his
own
identity
any
longer
.
"
Where
to
!
"
cried
the
officer
;
"
why
—
to
Whitecross
,
to
be
sure
!
Where
the
devil
would
you
go
to
?
"
"
Can
I
not
be
allowed
to
sleep
in
a
sponging-house
?
"
"
No
—
this
is
an
execution
,
and
a
large
sum
,
mind
.
I
do
n't
dare
do
it
.
"
"
Well
,
then
—
here
goes
for
Whitecross
Street
!
"
said
Chichester
;
and
after
exchanging
a
few
words
in
a
whisper
with
the
baronet
,
he
left
the
house
with
the
sheriff
's
officers
.
CHAPTER
XXXV
.
WHITECROSS-STREET
PRISON
.
A
COLD
drizzling
rain
was
falling
,
as
Chichester
proceeded
along
the
streets
leading
to
the
debtors
'
prison
.
The
noise
of
pattens
upon
the
pavement
;
the
numbers
of
umbrellas
that
were
up
;
the
splashing
of
horses
'
feet
and
carriage-wheels
in
the
kennels
;
the
rush
of
cabs
and
the
shouting
of
omnibus-cads
,
were
all
characteristic
of
a
wet
night
in
a
crowded
metropolis
.
Chichester
shivered
—
more
through
nervousness
than
actual
cold
;
and
he
felt
an
oppressive
sensation
at
the
bottom
of
his
stomach
,
as
well
as
at
the
chest
.
The
officer
endeavoured
to
console
him
,
by
observing
that
"
it
was
lucky
he
had
been
taken
so
close
to
the
prison
on
such
a
rainy
night
.
"
The
ruined
young
man
envied
many
a
poor
wretch
whom
he
passed
on
his
way
;
for
he
knew
that
it
was
far
easier
to
get
into
a
debtors
'
gaol
than
to
get
out
of
it
.
At
length
they
arrived
at
the
prison
.
It
was
now
nine
o'clock
;
and
the
place
,
viewed
by
the
flickering
light
of
the
lamp
at
the
gate
of
the
governor
's
house
,
wore
a
melancholy
and
sombre
appearance
.
The
prisoner
was
introduced
into
a
small
lobby
,
where
an
elderly
turnkey
with
knee-breeches
and
gaiters
,
thrust
a
small
loaf
of
bread
into
his
hand
,
and
immediately
consigned
him
to
the
care
of
another
turnkey
,
who
led
him
through
several
alleys
to
the
staircase
communicating
with
the
Receiving
Ward
.
The
turnkey
pulled
a
wire
,
which
rang
a
bell
on
the
first
floor
.
"
Who
rings
?
"
cried
a
voice
at
the
top
of
the
stairs
.
"
Sheriffs
debtor
—
Arthur
Chichester
—
L
.
S.
,
"
replied
the
turnkey
,
in
a
loud
sing-song
voice
.
Chichester
afterwards
learnt
that
he
was
mentioned
as
a
sheriff
's
prisoner
,
in
contra-distinction
to
one
arrested
by
a
warrant
from
the
Court
of
Requests
;
and
that
L
.
S.
meant
London
side
—
an
intimation
that
he
had
been
arrested
in
the
City
of
London
,
and
not
in
the
County
of
Middlesex
.
Having
ascended
a
flight
of
stone
steps
,
Chichester
was
met
at
the
door
of
the
Receiving
Ward
by
the
steward
thereof
.
This
steward
was
himself
a
prisoner
,
but
was
considered
a
trustworthy
person
,
and
had
therefore
been
selected
by
the
governor
to
preside
over
that
department
of
the
prison
.
The
Receiving
Ward
was
a
long
low
room
,
with
windows
secured
by
bars
,
at
each
end
.
There
were
two
grates
,
but
only
one
contained
any
fire
.
The
place
was
remarkably
clean
—
the
floor
,
the
deal
tables
,
and
the
forms
being
as
white
as
snow
.
The
following
conversation
forthwith
took
place
between
the
new
prisoner
and
the
steward
:
—
"
What
is
your
name
?
"
"
Arthur
Chichester
.
"
"
Have
you
got
your
bread
?
"
"
Yes
.
"
"
Well
—
put
it
in
that
pigeon-hole
.
Do
you
choose
to
have
sheets
to-night
on
your
bed
?
"
"
Certainly
.
"
"
Then
that
will
be
a
shilling
the
first
night
,
and
sixpence
every
night
after
,
as
long
as
you
remain
here
.
You
can
,
moreover
,
sleep
in
the
inner
room
,
and
sit
up
till
twelve
o'clock
.
Those
who
ca
n't
afford
to
pay
for
sheets
sleep
in
a
room
by
themselves
,
and
go
to
bed
at
a
quarter
to
ten
.
You
see
we
know
how
to
separate
the
gentlemen
from
the
riff-raff
.
"
"
And
how
long
shall
I
be
allowed
to
stay
up
in
the
Receiving
Ward
?
"
"
That
depends
.
Do
you
mean
to
live
at
my
table
?
I
charge
sixpence
for
tea
,
the
same
for
breakfast
,
a
shilling
for
dinner
,
and
four-pence
for
supper
.
"
"
Well
—
I
shall
be
most
happy
to
live
at
your
table
.
"
"
In
that
case
,
write
a
note
to
the
governor
,
to
say
you
are
certain
to
be
able
to
settle
your
affairs
in
the
course
of
a
week
;
and
I
will
take
care
he
shall
have
it
the
very
first
thing
to-morrow
morning
.
"
"
But
I
am
sure
of
not
being
able
to
settle
in
a
week
.
"
"
Do
as
you
like
.
You
wo
n't
be
allowed
to
stay
up
here
unless
you
do
.
"
"
Oh
!
in
that
case
I
will
do
so
at
once
.
Can
you
oblige
me
with
a
sheet
of
writing-paper
?
"
"
Certainly
.
Here
is
one
.
A
penny
,
if
you
please
.
"
Chichester
paid
for
the
paper
,
wrote
the
letter
,
and
handed
it
to
the
Steward
.
He
then
cast
a
glance
round
the
room
;
and
saw
three
or
four
tolerably
decent-looking
persons
warming
themselves
at
the
fire
,
while
fifteen
or
sixteen
wretched-looking
men
,
dressed
for
the
most
part
as
labourers
,
were
sitting
on
the
forms
round
the
walls
,
at
a
considerable
distance
from
the
blazing
grate
.
The
Steward
,
perceiving
that
the
new
prisoner
threw
a
look
of
inquiry
towards
him
,
said
,
—
"
Those
gentlemen
at
the
fire
are
Sheriff
's
Debtors
,
and
live
at
my
table
:
those
chaps
over
there
are
Court
of
Requests
'
Men
,
and
have
n't
a
shilling
to
bless
themselves
with
.
So
,
of
course
,
I
ca
n't
allow
them
to
associate
with
the
others
.
"
"
How
many
prisoners
,
upon
an
average
,
pass
through
the
Receiving
Ward
in
the
course
of
one
year
?
"
"
About
three
thousand
three
hundred
as
near
as
I
can
guess
.
All
the
Debtors
receive
each
so
much
bread
and
meat
a-week
.
The
prison
costs
the
City
close
upon
nine
thousand
pounds
a
year
.
"
"
Nine
thousand
a-year
,
spent
to
lock
men
up
,
away
from
their
families
!
"
exclaimed
Chichester
.
"
That
sum
would
pay
the
debts
of
the
greater
portion
of
those
who
are
unfortunate
enough
to
be
brought
here
.
"
"
You
may
well
say
that
,
"
returned
the
Steward
.
"
Why
,
half
the
prisoners
who
come
here
are
poor
working-men
,
snatched
away
from
their
labour
,
and
obliged
to
know
that
their
wives
and
children
will
starve
during
their
absence
.
That
man
over
there
,
with
the
little
bundle
tied
up
in
a
blue
cotton
handkerchief
,
is
only
arrested
for
8d
.
The
costs
are
three
and
sixpence
.
"
"
He
is
actually
a
prisoner
,
then
,
for
four
and
two-pence
.
"
"
Exactly
.
The
man
next
to
him
is
arrested
for
3d
.
,
the
balance
of
a
chandler
's
shop
debt
;
his
costs
are
five
shillings
.
But
the
case
of
that
poor
devil
who
is
crying
so
up
in
the
corner
,
is
the
worst
.
It
appears
that
he
had
an
account
at
a
tally-shop
,
and
paid
one
shilling
a-week
towards
its
liquidation
.
He
was
in
full
work
,
and
earned
eighteen
shillings
a
week
;
and
so
he
regularly
gave
his
wife
the
money
every
Saturday
night
to
put
away
for
the
tally-man
.
But
the
woman
is
fund
of
tippling
,
and
she
spent
the
money
in
gin
.
Well
,
the
tally-man
takes
out
a
summons
from
the
Court
of
Requests
:
the
wife
receives
it
,
and
is
afraid
to
tell
her
husband
.
Next
week
comes
the
Rule
:
this
the
woman
also
hides
,
hoping
,
somehow
or
another
,
to
get
together
the
debt
and
costs
,
and
settle
it
unknown
to
her
husband
.
But
no
such
thing
:
so
this
morning
,
as
the
poor
fellow
was
going
home
to
dinner
,
he
was
arrested
for
four
shillings
debt
,
and
six
shillings
costs
.
"
"
This
was
cruel
indeed
,
"
observed
Chichester
,
to
whom
all
these
details
were
perfectly
new
.
"
Yes
,
"
continued
the
Steward
;
"
but
that
is
nothing
to
the
things
that
I
have
heard
men
tell
up
in
this
room
.
Loan-Societies
,
Tally-Shops
,
and
the
low
pettifogging
lawyers
,
keep
this
place
well-filled
.
"
It
was
now
a
quarter
to
ten
;
and
the
poor
wretches
who
could
not
afford
to
pay
for
sheets
,
were
huddled
off
to
bed
.
Chichester
,
and
the
"
gentlemen
who
boarded
at
the
Steward
's
table
,
"
remained
up
,
smoking
cigars
and
drinking
ale
,
until
twelve
.
Chichester
was
then
introduced
into
a
large
room
,
containing
ten
or
a
dozen
beds
,
whose
frame-work
was
made
of
iron
.
One
miserably
thin
blanket
,
a
horse-cloth
,
and
a
straw
mattress
and
pillow
,
were
all
provided
for
each
couch
,
by
the
Corporation
of
the
City
of
London
!
Oh
!
how
generous
—
how
philanthropic
—
how
noble
;
to
tear
men
away
from
their
homes
and
give
them
straw
,
wrapped
up
in
coarse
ticking
,
to
sleep
upon
!
On
the
following
morning
Chichester
awoke
early
,
and
rose
with
every
bone
aching
from
the
hardness
of
his
bed
.
He
performed
his
toilette
in
a
species
of
scullery
attached
to
the
Receiving
Ward
;
and
the
enjoyment
of
this
luxury
was
attended
with
the
following
disbursements
:
—
Towel
.
2d
.
;
Use
of
Soap
,
1d
.
;
Loan
of
Razor
and
Lather-box
,
1d
.
Breakfast
,
consisting
of
coffee
and
dry
toast
,
was
then
served
up
.
Those
who
boarded
with
the
steward
sate
down
and
commenced
a
desperate
assault
upon
the
provisions
:
and
those
who
fancied
an
egg
or
a
rasher
of
bacon
with
their
meal
,
paid
twopence
extra
.
The
conversation
was
entirely
associated
with
the
prison
affairs
;
it
appeared
as
if
those
men
when
once
they
set
foot
in
the
prison
,
discarded
all
thoughts
of
the
great
world
without
,
from
which
they
have
been
snatched
away
.
Even
when
the
morning
newspaper
came
in
,
attention
was
first
directed
,
by
a
strange
kind
of
sympathy
,
to
the
list
of
Bankrupts
and
to
the
Law
Notices
,
the
latter
of
which
afforded
them
the
pleasing
and
interesting
intelligence
of
who
were
that
day
to
appear
before
the
Commissioners
of
the
Insolvent
Court
.
At
five
minutes
past
nine
,
a
violent
ring
at
the
bell
called
the
Steward
in
haste
to
the
door
.
This
was
the
summons
of
a
turnkey
who
came
to
remove
the
new
prisoners
to
the
respective
departments
of
the
establishment
to
which
they
belonged
.
Thus
they
were
classified
into
Middlesex
Sheriffs
'
Debtors
,
London
Sheriffs
'
Debtors
,
and
City
Freemen
who
were
also
Sheriffs
'
Debtors
;
and
London
Court
of
Requests
'
Debtors
,
and
Middlesex
Court
of
Requests
'
Debtors
.
Chichester
was
ordered
to
remove
to
the
Poultry
Ward
,
on
the
London
side
,
the
governor
declining
to
comply
with
the
request
contained
in
his
letter
.
It
will
be
seen
from
what
we
have
already
said
,
that
Whitecross-street
prison
is
essentially
different
from
the
Bench
,
descriptions
of
which
have
been
given
in
so
many
different
works
,
and
the
leading
features
of
which
are
so
familiar
to
a
large
portion
of
the
community
,
either
from
hearsay
or
experience
.
If
a
man
cannot
muster
four
or
five
pounds
to
transfer
himself
from
the
custody
of
the
Sheriffs
to
that
of
the
Judges
,
by
a
habeas
corpus
writ
,
he
must
remain
in
Whitecross-street
prison
,
while
the
more
wealthy
debtor
enjoys
every
luxury
and
privilege
in
the
Bench
.
And
yet
,
we
are
constantly
assured
that
there
is
the
same
law
for
the
poor
as
there
is
for
the
rich
!
The
system
of
imprisonment
for
debt
is
in
itself
impolitic
,
unwise
,
and
cruel
in
the
extreme
:
—
it
ruins
the
honest
man
,
and
destroys
the
little
remnant
of
good
feeling
existing
in
the
heart
of
the
callous
one
.
It
establishes
the
absurd
doctrine
,
that
if
a
man
cannot
pay
his
debts
while
he
is
allowed
the
exercise
of
his
talents
,
his
labour
,
and
his
acquirements
,
he
can
when
shut
up
in
the
narrow
compass
of
a
prison
,
where
his
talents
,
his
labours
,
and
his
acquirements
are
useless
.
How
eminently
narrow-sighted
are
English
legislators
!
They
fear
totally
to
abolish
this
absurd
custom
,
because
they
dread
that
credit
will
suffer
.
Why
—
credit
is
altogether
begotten
in
confidence
,
and
never
arises
from
the
preconceived
intention
on
the
part
of
him
who
gives
it
,
to
avail
himself
of
this
law
against
him
who
receives
it
.
Larceny
and
theft
are
punished
by
a
limited
imprisonment
,
with
an
allowance
of
food
;
but
debtors
,
who
commit
no
crime
,
may
linger
and
languish
—
and
starve
in
gaol
.
The
Poultry
Ward
was
a
long
,
dark
,
low
room
,
with
seven
or
eight
barred
windows
on
each
side
,
sawdust
upon
the
stone
floor
,
and
about
a
dozen
or
fourteen
small
tables
arranged
,
like
those
of
a
coffee-house
,
around
the
walls
.
The
room
was
full
of
debtors
of
all
appearances
—
from
the
shabby-genteel
down
to
the
absolutely
ragged
.
Here
a
prisoner
was
occupied
in
drawing
up
his
schedule
for
the
Insolvent
Debtors
'
Court
;
—
there
an
emaciated
old
man
was
writing
a
letter
,
over
which
he
shed
bitter
and
scalding
tears
;
—
at
another
table
a
young
farmer
's
labourer-looking
man
was
breakfasting
off
bread
and
cheese
and
onions
,
which
he
washed
down
with
porter
;
—
close
by
was
a
stout
seedy-looking
person
with
grey
hair
,
who
did
not
seem
to
have
any
breakfast
at
all
;
—
in
this
nook
a
poor
pale
wretch
was
reading
a
newspaper
;
—
in
that
corner
another
individual
was
examining
a
pile
of
letters
;
—
several
were
gathered
round
the
fire
in
the
scullery
or
kitchen
attached
to
the
Ward
,
preparing
their
breakfasts
;
—
and
others
were
lounging
up
and
down
the
room
,
laughing
and
talking
over
the
amusements
of
the
preceding
night
up
in
the
sleeping
rooms
.
The
steward
of
the
Poultry
Ward
had
just
finished
his
breakfast
when
the
turnkey
introduced
Mr.
Chichester
.
"
Well
,
Mr.
Thaynes
,
"
said
the
Steward
,
quite
delighted
to
see
the
new
prisoner
,
"
I
began
to
think
we
should
have
had
none
down
this
morning
.
Pray
take
a
seat
,
sir
.
"
This
invitation
was
addressed
to
Chichester
,
who
sat
down
accordingly
.
The
Steward
,
after
exchanging
a
few
observations
with
the
turnkey
,
produced
a
book
from
a
drawer
in
the
table
,
and
,
addressing
himself
in
a
semi-mysterious
tone
to
Mr.
Chichester
,
said
—
"
These
are
our
rules
and
regulations
.
Every
new
member
is
required
to
pay
an
entrance
fee
of
one
pound
and
sixpence
;
and
this
goes
towards
the
fund
for
paying
the
officers
and
servants
of
the
ward
,
providing
coals
,
and
administering
generally
to
the
comforts
of
the
place
.
"
"
I
am
quite
satisfied
with
the
justice
of
the
charge
,
"
said
Chichester
;
and
he
paid
it
accordingly
.
"
I
suppose
you
will
live
at
my
table
?
"
enquired
the
Steward
.
"
Same
charges
as
upstairs
in
the
Receiving
Ward
.
"
"
Oh
!
certainly
,
"
answered
Chichester
.
"
Have
you
any
body
here
of
any
consequence
at
all
?
"
"
Not
particularly
at
this
moment
.
Lord
William
Priggins
stayed
a
couple
of
days
with
us
,
and
went
over
to
the
Bench
yesterday
morning
.
"
"
Who
is
that
gentleman
walking
up
and
down
the
narrow
court
outside
?
"
enquired
Chichester
,
glancing
towards
the
window
,
through
which
might
be
seen
a
tall
slim
young
man
,
with
black
moustachios
,
a
long
faded
cotton
dressing
gown
,
a
dingy
velvet
skull
cap
,
and
pantaloons
hanging
low
and
loose
,
because
the
owner
had
forgotten
his
braces
.
"
Oh
!
that
is
Count
Pichantoss
—
a
celebrated
Russian
nobleman
,
who
was
cleaned
out
some
weeks
since
at
a
West-end
Hell
,
and
got
put
into
prison
for
his
hotel
bill
.
"
"
And
who
is
that
respectable
old
gentleman
with
the
bald
head
,
and
dressed
in
black
?
"
"
That
is
a
clergyman
,
the
Rev.
Henry
Sharpere
:
he
is
an
excellent
preacher
,
they
say
—
and
the
best
securer
of
a
die
that
I
ever
saw
in
my
life
.
"
"
And
that
very
sickly
pale-faced
youth
,
who
seems
to
be
scarcely
twenty
?
"
"
He
is
only
twenty-one
and
a
month
.
He
was
arrested
the
day
after
he
came
of
age
for
blank
acceptances
which
he
had
given
,
during
his
minority
,
to
the
tune
of
three
thousand
pounds
,
and
for
which
he
never
received
more
than
three
hundred
.
"
"
And
that
quiet-looking
old
gentleman
,
at
the
table
opposite
?
"
"
He
is
a
Chancery
prisoner
—
committed
for
contempt
.
It
appears
that
he
was
one
morning
walking
by
the
Auction
Mart
,
and
saw
large
posting-bills
announcing
the
immediate
sale
of
an
estate
,
consisting
of
thirteen
houses
,
somewhere
in
Finsbury
,
under
a
decree
of
the
Court
of
Chancery
.
My
gentleman
had
n't
a
guinea
in
his
pocket
,
nor
the
means
of
raising
one
at
the
time
.
Nevertheless
he
walked
into
the
Mart
as
bold
as
brass
,
strode
up
stairs
to
the
auctioneer
's
rooms
,
and
bid
for
the
estate
.
There
were
plenty
of
competitors
;
but
he
did
n't
care
—
he
bid
away
;
and
at
last
the
estate
was
knocked
down
to
him
for
four
thousand
three
hundred
pounds
.
When
sales
are
effected
under
an
order
of
the
Chancellor
,
no
deposit-money
is
required
.
This
may
seem
strange
to
you
;
but
it
is
not
the
less
a
fact
.
So
off
walks
my
gentleman
,
quite
rejoiced
at
his
bargain
.
The
first
thing
he
does
is
to
go
and
collect
all
the
arrears
of
rent
he
can
from
the
tenants
of
the
houses
,
and
to
distrain
upon
those
who
could
n't
or
would
n't
pay
.
Lord
!
what
a
game
he
did
play
,
to
be
sure
!
He
called
into
request
the
services
of
half
the
brokers
in
Finsbury
,
and
made
the
tenants
cash
up
to
the
very
last
farthing
that
was
due
.
Well
,
the
lawyers
employed
for
the
sale
of
the
estate
,
drew
up
the
deeds
of
conveyance
and
the
abstract
of
the
title
;
but
my
gentleman
never
meant
paying
—
so
at
last
,
the
Chancery
Court
,
getting
tired
of
his
excuses
,
and
finding
that
he
would
not
disgorge
the
amount
he
had
already
received
for
rents
,
nor
yet
come
down
with
a
shilling
towards
the
purchase-money
,
clapt
him
into
limbo
under
some
form
or
another
;
—
and
so
here
he
is
.
"
In
this
manner
did
the
steward
of
the
Poultry
Ward
render
the
new
prisoner
familiar
with
the
leading
characters
of
that
department
of
the
prison
.
In
addition
to
the
few
instances
of
flagrant
dishonesty
,
or
culpable
extravagance
which
were
pointed
out
to
Chichester
,
information
was
given
him
of
many
—
very
many
cases
of
pure
and
unadulterated
misfortune
.
The
churchyard
has
known
no
sorrow
—
the
death-chamber
has
known
no
anguish
equal
to
that
acute
and
poignant
suffering
which
many
an
inmate
endures
within
the
walls
of
that
prison
.
If
he
be
an
affectionate
father
,
he
thinks
of
his
absent
little
ones
,
and
he
feels
shocked
at
the
cold
cruelty
of
the
rules
which
only
permit
children
to
visit
their
incarcerated
sire
twice
a-week
—
on
Wednesday
and
Sunday
—
and
then
only
for
three
hours
each
time
.
If
he
be
a
kind
husband
,
and
possess
a
tender
and
a
loving
wife
,
he
dreads
the
fatal
hour
of
five
of
the
evening
,
which
is
the
signal
for
all
strangers
and
visitors
to
leave
these
walls
.
Misery
—
lank
,
lean
,
palpable
misery
—
is
the
characteristic
of
Whitecross
Street
prison
.
The
legislature
says
—
"
We
only
allow
men
to
be
locked
up
in
order
to
prevent
them
from
running
away
without
paying
the
debts
they
owe
.
"
—
Then
why
treat
them
as
felons
?
Why
impose
upon
them
rules
and
regulations
,
the
severity
of
which
is
as
galling
to
their
souls
as
the
iron
chains
of
Newgate
are
to
the
felons
'
flesh
?
Why
break
their
spirits
and
crush
their
good
and
generous
feelings
,
by
compelling
them
all
to
herd
together
—
the
high
and
the
low
—
the
polite
and
the
vulgar
—
the
temperate
and
the
drunkard
—
the
cleanly
and
the
filthy
—
the
religious
and
the
profane
—
the
sedate
and
the
ribald
?
O
excellent
legislators
!
do
you
believe
that
a
man
ever
went
out
of
the
debtor
's
gaol
more
moral
and
better
disposed
than
he
was
when
he
went
in
?
The
answer
to
this
question
will
,
in
one
word
,
teach
you
the
efficacy
of
Imprisonment
for
Debt
.
Chichester
walked
out
into
a
large
stone-paved
court
attached
to
his
ward
,
and
bearing
the
attractive
but
somewhat
illusive
name
of
the
"
Park
.
"
At
twelve
o'clock
the
beer
men
from
the
public-houses
in
Whitecross
Street
were
allowed
admittance
;
and
then
commenced
the
debauchery
of
the
day
.
The
seats
round
the
"
Park
"
were
soon
crowded
with
prisoners
and
visitors
,
drinking
,
smoking
,
laughing
,
and
swearing
.
Many
poor
wretches
,
who
could
not
boast
of
much
strength
of
mind
,
but
who
were
in
reality
well
disposed
,
took
to
this
occupation
to
kill
care
.
And
who
will
blame
them
?
Not
you
,
proud
peer
,
who
bury
your
vexations
in
crystal
goblets
sparkling
with
the
choicest
juice
of
Epernay
's
grape
—
nor
you
,
fine
gentleman
,
who
seek
in
gaming
at
your
club
a
relief
from
the
anxieties
and
petty
troubles
which
now
and
then
interrupt
the
otherwise
even
tenure
of
your
way
!
In
the
course
of
the
day
Mr.
Chichester
wrote
a
very
penitent
letter
to
his
father
,
the
pawnbroker
,
lamenting
past
follies
,
and
promising
future
good
conduct
.
The
postscript
contained
an
intimation
that
prison
was
bad
enough
when
one
possessed
plenty
of
money
;
but
that
it
was
ten
thousand
times
worse
when
associated
with
empty
pockets
.
This
precious
epistle
succeeded
in
inducing
the
"
old
gentleman
,
"
as
Chichester
denominated
his
father
,
to
loosen
his
purse
strings
,
and
remit
a
few
pounds
to
supply
immediate
wants
.
Chichester
was
thus
enabled
to
live
at
the
Steward
's
table
,
and
smoke
his
cigars
and
drink
his
ale
to
his
heart
's
content
.
In
a
small
community
like
that
of
a
ward
in
Whitecross
Street
,
as
well
as
in
the
great
world
without
,
he
who
has
the
most
money
is
the
most
"
looked
up
to
"
—
which
is
a
phrase
perfectly
understood
,
and
almost
synonymous
with
"
respected
;
"
and
thus
Mr.
Chichester
very
speedily
became
the
"
star
"
of
that
department
of
the
prison
to
which
he
had
been
assigned
.
CHAPTER
XXXVI
.
THE
EXECUTION
.
FROM
the
moment
that
Bill
Bolter
had
been
removed
to
the
condemned
cell
,
after
his
trial
at
the
Old
Bailey
for
the
murder
of
his
wife
,
he
preserved
a
sullen
and
moody
silence
.
Two
turnkeys
sat
up
with
him
constantly
,
according
to
the
rules
of
the
prison
;
but
he
never
made
the
slightest
advances
towards
entering
into
conversation
with
them
.
The
Chaplain
was
frequent
in
his
attendance
upon
the
convict
;
but
no
regard
was
paid
to
the
religious
consolations
and
exhortations
of
the
reverend
gentleman
.
The
murderer
ate
his
meals
heartily
,
and
enjoyed
sound
physical
health
:
he
was
hale
and
strong
,
and
might
,
in
the
common
course
of
nature
,
have
lived
until
a
good
old
age
.
By
day
he
sate
,
with
folded
arms
,
meditating
upon
his
condition
.
He
scarcely
repented
of
the
numerous
evil
deeds
of
which
he
had
been
guilty
:
but
he
trembled
at
the
idea
of
a
future
state
!
One
night
he
had
a
horrid
dream
.
He
thought
that
the
moment
had
arrived
for
his
execution
,
and
that
he
was
standing
upon
the
drop
.
Suddenly
the
board
gave
way
beneath
his
feet
—
and
he
fell
.
An
agonising
feeling
of
the
blood
rushing
with
the
fury
of
a
torrent
and
with
a
heat
of
molten
lead
up
into
his
brain
,
seized
upon
him
:
his
eyes
shot
sparks
of
fire
;
and
in
his
ears
there
was
a
loud
droning
sound
,
like
the
moan
of
the
ocean
on
a
winter
's
night
.
This
sensation
,
he
fancied
,
lasted
about
two
minutes
—
a
short
and
insignificant
space
to
those
who
feel
not
pain
,
but
an
age
when
passed
in
the
endurance
of
agony
the
most
intense
.
Then
he
died
:
and
he
thought
that
his
spirit
left
his
body
with
the
last
pulsation
of
the
lungs
,
and
was
suddenly
whirled
downwards
,
with
fearful
rapidity
,
upon
the
wings
of
a
hurricane
.
He
felt
himself
in
total
darkness
;
and
yet
he
had
an
idea
that
he
was
plunging
precipitately
into
a
fearful
gulf
,
around
the
sides
of
which
hideous
monsters
,
immense
serpents
,
formidable
bats
,
and
all
kinds
of
slimy
reptiles
were
climbing
.
At
length
he
reached
the
bottom
of
the
gulf
;
and
then
the
faculty
of
sight
was
suddenly
restored
to
him
.
At
the
same
moment
he
felt
fires
encircling
him
all
around
;
and
a
horrible
snake
coiled
itself
about
him
.
He
was
in
the
midst
of
a
boundless
lake
of
flame
;
and
far
as
his
eyes
could
reach
,
he
beheld
myriads
of
spirits
all
undergoing
the
same
punishment
—
writhing
in
quenchless
fire
and
girt
by
hideous
serpents
.
And
he
thought
that
neither
himself
nor
those
spirits
which
he
beheld
around
,
wore
any
shape
which
he
could
define
;
and
yet
he
saw
them
plainly
—
palpably
.
They
had
no
heads
—
no
limbs
;
and
yet
they
were
something
more
than
shapeless
trunks
,
—
all
naked
and
flesh-coloured
,
and
unconsumed
and
indestructible
amidst
that
burning
lake
,
which
had
no
end
.
In
a
few
moments
this
dread
scene
changed
,
and
all
was
again
dark
.
The
murderer
fancied
that
he
was
now
groping
about
in
convulsive
agonies
upon
the
bank
of
a
river
,
the
stream
of
which
was
tepid
and
thick
like
blood
.
The
bank
was
slimy
and
moist
,
and
overgrown
with
huge
osiers
and
dark
weeds
,
amidst
which
loathsome
reptiles
and
enormous
alligators
were
crowded
together
.
And
it
was
in
this
frightful
place
that
the
murderer
was
now
spiritually
groping
his
way
,
in
total
and
coal-black
darkness
.
At
length
he
slipped
down
the
slimy
bank
—
and
his
feet
touched
the
river
,
which
he
now
knew
to
be
of
blood
.
He
grasped
convulsively
at
the
osiers
to
save
himself
from
falling
into
that
horrible
stream
:
a
huge
serpent
sprung
from
the
thicket
,
and
coiled
itself
about
his
arms
and
neck
;
—
and
at
the
same
moment
an
enormous
alligator
rose
from
the
river
of
blood
,
and
seized
him
in
the
middle
between
its
tremendous
jaws
.
He
uttered
a
fearful
cry
—
and
awoke
.
This
dream
made
a
deep
impression
upon
him
.
He
believed
that
he
had
experienced
a
foretaste
of
Hell
—
of
that
hell
,
with
all
its
horrors
,
in
which
he
would
be
doomed
for
ever
and
ever
—
without
hope
,
without
end
.
And
yet
,
by
a
strange
idiosyncrasy
of
conduct
,
he
did
not
court
the
consolation
of
the
clergyman
:
he
breathed
no
prayer
,
gave
no
outward
and
visible
sign
of
repentance
:
but
continued
in
the
same
sullen
state
of
reserve
before
noticed
.
Still
,
after
that
dream
,
he
dreaded
to
seek
his
bed
at
night
.
He
was
afraid
of
sleep
;
for
when
he
closed
his
eyes
in
slumber
,
visions
of
hell
,
varied
in
a
thousand
horrible
ways
,
presented
themselves
to
his
mind
.
He
never
thought
of
his
children
:
and
once
when
the
clergyman
asked
him
if
he
would
like
to
see
them
,
he
shook
his
head
impatiently
.
Death
!
he
shuddered
at
the
idea
—
and
yet
he
never
sought
to
escape
from
its
presence
by
conversation
or
books
.
He
sate
moodily
brooding
upon
death
and
what
would
probably
occur
hereafter
,
until
he
conjured
up
to
his
imagination
all
the
phantasmagorical
displays
of
demons
,
spectres
,
and
posthumous
horrors
ever
conceived
by
human
mind
.
On
another
occasion
—
the
Friday
before
the
Monday
on
which
he
was
executed
—
he
dreamt
of
heaven
.
He
thought
that
the
moment
the
drop
had
fallen
from
beneath
his
feet
,
a
brilliant
light
,
such
as
he
had
never
seen
on
earth
,
shone
all
around
him
:
—
the
entire
atmosphere
was
illuminated
as
with
gold-dust
in
the
rays
of
a
powerful
sun
.
And
the
sun
and
moon
and
stars
all
appeared
of
amazing
size
—
immense
orbs
of
lustrous
and
shining
metal
.
He
fancied
that
he
winged
his
way
upwards
with
a
slow
and
steady
motion
,
a
genial
warmth
prevailing
all
around
,
and
sweet
odours
delighting
his
senses
.
In
this
manner
he
soared
on
high
—
until
at
length
he
passed
sun
,
moon
,
and
stars
,
and
beheld
them
all
shining
far
,
far
beneath
his
feet
.
Presently
the
sounds
of
the
most
ravishing
sacred
music
,
accompanied
by
choral
voices
hymning
to
the
praise
of
the
Highest
,
fell
upon
his
ear
.
His
soul
was
enchanted
by
these
notes
of
promise
,
of
hope
,
and
of
love
;
and
,
raising
his
eyes
,
he
beheld
the
shining
palaces
of
heaven
towering
above
vast
and
awe-inspiring
piles
of
clouds
.
He
reached
a
luminous
avenue
amidst
these
clouds
,
which
led
to
the
gates
of
paradise
.
He
was
about
to
enter
upon
that
glorious
and
radiant
path
,
when
a
sudden
change
came
over
the
entire
spirit
of
his
dream
;
and
in
a
moment
he
found
himself
dashing
precipitately
downwards
,
amidst
darkness
increasing
in
intensity
,
but
through
which
the
sun
,
moon
,
and
planets
might
be
seen
,
at
immense
distances
,
of
a
lurid
and
ominous
red
.
Down
—
down
he
continued
falling
,
until
he
was
pitched
with
violence
upon
the
moist
and
slimy
bank
of
that
river
of
tepid
blood
,
whose
margin
was
crowded
with
hideous
reptiles
,
and
whose
depths
swarmed
with
wide-mouthed
alligators
.
Thus
passed
the
murderer
's
time
—
dread
meditations
by
day
,
and
appalling
dreams
by
night
.
Once
he
thought
of
committing
suicide
,
and
thus
avoiding
the
ignominy
of
the
scaffold
.
He
had
no
shame
;
but
he
dreaded
hanging
on
account
of
the
pain
—
whereof
he
had
experienced
the
dread
sensations
in
his
dreams
.
Besides
,
death
is
not
quite
so
terrible
when
inflicted
by
one
's
own
hand
,
as
it
is
when
dealt
by
another
.
He
was
,
however
,
closely
watched
;
and
the
only
way
in
which
he
could
have
killed
himself
was
by
dashing
the
back
of
his
head
violently
against
the
stone-wall
.
Then
he
reflected
that
he
might
not
do
this
effectually
;
—
and
so
he
abandoned
the
idea
of
self-destruction
.
On
the
last
Sunday
of
his
life
he
attended
the
Chapel
.
A
condemned
sermon
was
preached
according
to
custom
.
The
sacred
fane
was
filled
with
elegantly
dressed
ladies
—
the
wives
,
daughters
,
and
friends
of
the
City
authorities
.
The
Clergyman
enjoined
the
prisoner
to
repentance
,
and
concluded
by
assuring
him
that
it
was
not
even
then
too
late
to
acknowledge
his
errors
and
save
his
soul
.
God
would
still
forgive
him
!
If
God
could
thus
forgive
him
,
—
why
could
not
Man
?
Oh
!
wherefore
did
that
preacher
confine
his
observations
to
the
mercy
of
the
Almighty
?
why
did
he
not
address
a
terrible
lecture
to
blood-thirsty
and
avenging
mortals
?
Of
what
use
was
the
death
of
that
sinner
?
Surely
there
is
no
moral
example
in
a
public
execution
?
"
There
is
,
"
says
the
Legislature
.
We
will
see
presently
.
Oh
!
why
could
not
the
life
of
that
man
—
stained
with
crime
and
red
with
blood
though
it
were
—
have
been
spared
,
and
he
himself
allowed
to
live
to
see
the
horror
of
his
ways
,
and
learn
to
admire
virtue
?
He
might
have
been
locked
up
for
the
remainder
of
his
existence
:
bars
and
bolts
in
English
gaols
are
very
strong
;
there
was
enough
air
for
him
to
be
allowed
to
breathe
it
;
and
there
was
enough
bread
to
have
spared
him
a
morsel
at
the
expense
of
the
state
!
We
cannot
give
life
:
we
have
no
right
to
take
it
away
.
On
the
Sunday
afternoon
,
the
murderer
's
children
were
taken
to
see
him
in
the
condemned
cell
.
He
had
not
asked
for
them
:
but
the
authorities
considered
it
proper
that
they
should
take
leave
of
him
.
The
poor
little
innocents
were
dressed
in
the
workhouse
garb
.
The
boy
understood
that
his
father
was
to
be
hanged
on
the
following
morning
;
and
his
grief
was
heart-rending
.
The
little
girl
could
not
understand
why
her
parent
was
in
that
gloomy
place
,
nor
what
horrible
fate
awaited
him
:
—
but
she
had
an
undefined
and
vague
sense
of
peril
and
misfortune
;
and
she
cried
also
.
The
murderer
kissed
them
,
and
told
them
to
be
good
children
;
—
but
he
only
thus
conducted
himself
because
he
was
ashamed
to
appear
so
unfeeling
and
brutal
as
he
knew
himself
to
be
,
in
the
presence
of
the
Ordinary
,
the
Governor
,
the
Sheriffs
,
and
the
ladies
who
were
admitted
to
have
a
glimpse
of
him
in
his
dungeon
.
*
*
*
*
*
The
morning
of
the
second
Monday
after
the
Sessions
dawned
.
This
was
the
one
fixed
by
the
Sheriffs
for
the
execution
of
William
Bolter
,
the
murderer
.
At
four
o'clock
on
that
fatal
morning
the
huge
black
stage
containing
the
drop
,
was
wheeled
out
of
a
shed
in
the
Press
Yard
,
and
stationed
opposite
the
debtors
'
door
