true—
—
"
"
True
!
what
interest
have
I
to
tell
you
a
lie
?
I
have
been
some
time
in
search
of
that
villain
;
and
accident
threw
us
together
to-night
.
This
dagger
—
—
"
here
he
took
Markham
's
hand
,
and
made
him
feel
the
point
of
the
elastic
poniard
,
—
"
this
dagger
drank
his
life
's
best
blood
!
"
Richard
could
not
suppress
an
ejaculation
of
horror
.
The
assassin
laughed
.
"
Unhappy
man
,
"
said
our
hero
,
"
are
you
not
aware
that
your
life
may
be
forfeited
on
account
of
this
deed
?
"
"
And
this
good
blade
should
reach
the
heart
of
any
one
that
attempted
to
take
me
,
"
was
the
resolute
and
indeed
significant
reply
.
"
I
promised
to
betray
nothing
that
you
might
communicate
to
me
,
and
I
shall
keep
my
word
,
"
rejoined
Markham
,
in
a
firm
tone
,
and
without
retreating
a
single
step
.
"
Did
I
wish
to
forfeit
my
pledge
,
your
dagger
would
not
intimidate
me
.
"
"
You
are
a
brave
fellow
,
"
cried
the
stranger
;
"
and
all
brave
men
may
be
trusted
.
Would
you
like
to
satisfy
yourself
,
with
your
own
eyes
,
that
Anthony
Tidkins
has
received
his
death
wound
?
"
"
I
should
,
"
answered
Markham
;
"
both
on
my
own
account
and
on
that
of
society
.
"
"
And
you
will
not
betray
the
place
that
I
shall
take
you
to
,
or
the
people
that
you
may
see
there
?
"
"
Most
solemnly
will
I
keep
your
secret
.
"
"
Come
with
me
,
then
.
I
will
leave
you
at
the
door
;
and
your
own
ingenuity
must
obtain
you
admittance
.
But
,
one
word
more
:
you
will
not
state
to
any
one
there
that
you
have
met
me
?
"
"
I
will
not
even
allow
my
motive
for
visiting
the
place
you
speak
of
to
transpire
.
"
"
I
believe
all
you
say
.
Come
!
"
The
man
led
the
way
out
of
the
court
,
accompanied
by
our
hero
.
They
threaded
several
narrow
streets
and
alleys
,
and
at
length
stopped
at
the
door
of
a
large
house
.
"
Knock
,
and
demand
shelter
:
admittance
will
not
,
I
fancy
,
be
refused
.
"
"
Is
there
any
danger
to
be
encountered
?
"
asked
Markham
:
"
not
that
I
fear
it
—
but
I
am
unarmed
.
"
"
There
is
no
danger
.
This
is
the
head-quarters
of
the
Gipsies
,
or
Zingarees
:
they
never
use
the
dagger
or
the
pistol
.
And
,
once
more
,
remember
your
promise
.
"
"
I
shall
not
forget
it
,
"
said
Richard
.
"
But
,
before
we
separate
,
answer
me
one
question
.
"
"
Speak
—
and
be
speedy
,
"
returned
the
man
.
"
In
one
word
,
then
,
why
,
when
you
overheard
my
conversation
with
the
policeman
,
did
you
resolve
upon
making
me
the
confidant
of
a
deed
which
might
send
you
to
the
scaffold
?
"
"
Because
I
am
proud
of
that
deed
,
"
replied
the
man
,
grasping
Richard
forcibly
by
the
wrist
,
and
grinding
his
teeth
in
horrible
triumph
;
—
"
because
it
is
the
result
of
four
years
of
pent-up
yearning
after
vengeance
;
—
because
,
in
avenging
myself
,
I
have
avenged
all
who
have
suffered
through
that
miscreant
;
—
because
I
am
anxious
that
those
who
have
been
injured
by
him
should
know
the
fate
that
has
overtaken
him
at
last
.
"
With
these
words
,
Crankey
Jem
(
whom
the
reader
has
doubtless
already
recognised
)
disappeared
precipitately
from
the
spot
.
CHAPTER
CXL
.
INCIDENTS
IN
THE
GIPSY
PALACE
.
For
a
few
moments
Richard
remained
rooted
to
the
spot
where
the
returned
convict
had
left
him
.
He
was
uncertain
how
to
proceed
.
Warned
by
the
desperate
adventure
which
had
nearly
cost
him
his
life
at
Twig
Folly
,
he
feared
lest
the
present
occurrence
might
be
another
scheme
of
the
Resurrection
Man
to
ensnare
him
.
Then
he
reflected
that
the
individual
who
had
just
left
him
,
had
met
him
accidentally
,
and
had
narrated
to
him
circumstances
which
had
every
appearance
of
truth
.
We
have
before
said
that
Markham
was
not
a
coward
—
far
from
it
;
and
he
moreover
experienced
a
lively
curiosity
to
satisfy
himself
concerning
the
fate
of
an
individual
whose
inveterate
malignity
had
so
frequently
menaced
not
only
his
dearest
interests
,
but
his
life
.
This
reflection
decided
him
;
and
,
without
farther
hesitation
,
he
knocked
boldly
at
the
front
door
of
the
Gipsies
'
Palace
.
Some
minutes
elapsed
ere
his
summons
appeared
to
have
created
any
attention
within
;
and
he
was
about
to
repeat
it
,
when
the
door
slowly
moved
on
its
hinges
.
But
to
Markham
's
surprise
no
person
appeared
in
the
obscure
lobby
into
which
the
pale
moon
threw
a
fitful
light
;
in
fact
,
the
front
door
was
opened
by
means
of
a
simple
mechanism
which
the
porter
worked
in
his
lodge
overhead
.
While
Markham
was
lost
in
wonder
at
this
strange
circumstance
,
the
trap
was
suddenly
raised
above
,
and
a
strong
light
was
thrown
through
it
into
the
lobby
.
"
Who
are
you
?
"
demanded
the
gruff
voice
of
the
porter
.
"
I
seek
a
few
hours
'
repose
and
rest
,
"
answered
Markham
.
"
Who
sent
you
here
?
"
"
A
person
who
is
a
friend
to
you
.
"
"
Do
you
know
what
place
this
is
?
"
"
Yes
—
it
is
the
head-quarters
of
the
Zingarees
.
"
"
So
far
,
so
good
,
"
said
the
porter
.
"
Well
—
wait
a
few
moments
—
I
must
see
.
"
The
trap
closed
—
the
lobby
was
again
involved
in
total
darkness
;
and
for
the
next
ten
minutes
the
silence
of
death
appeared
to
reign
within
the
house
.
At
the
expiration
of
that
time
the
inner
door
was
opened
:
;
and
the
porter
,
bearing
a
light
,
appeared
.
"
You
may
enter
,
"
he
said
.
"
The
Zingarees
never
refuse
hospitality
when
it
can
be
safely
granted
.
"
Markham
crossed
the
threshold
without
hesitation
.
The
porter
closed
both
doors
with
great
care
.
"
Follow
me
,
"
said
the
man
.
He
then
led
the
way
up
stairs
to
the
first
floor
,
and
conducted
our
hero
into
a
room
where
there
were
several
beds
,
all
of
which
were
unoccupied
.
"
You
have
your
choice
of
the
downies
,
"
observed
the
porter
,
with
a
half
smile
;
"
and
I
shall
leave
you
this
light
.
Do
you
require
any
food
?
"
"
None
,
I
thank
you
.
"
"
So
I
should
think
,
"
said
the
man
drily
,
as
he
surveyed
Markham
's
appearance
in
a
manner
which
seemed
to
express
a
wonder
why
a
person
in
his
situation
of
life
had
come
thither
at
all
.
We
have
,
however
,
before
observed
that
curiosity
formed
but
a
faint
feature
of
the
gipsy
character
;
and
,
even
when
it
existed
,
it
was
not
expressed
in
verbal
queries
.
Moreover
,
individuals
in
a
respectable
sphere
not
unfrequently
sought
in
the
Holy
Land
a
refuge
against
the
officers
of
the
laws
which
they
violated
;
and
hence
the
appearance
of
a
person
had
nothing
to
do
with
the
fact
of
admission
into
the
gipsies
'
establishment
.
Nevertheless
,
the
porter
did
survey
Markham
in
a
dubious
way
for
a
moment
;
but
whether
the
preceding
incidents
of
the
night
,
or
the
calm
tranquillity
of
our
hero
's
manner
,
—
so
inconsistent
with
the
idea
that
he
was
anxious
to
conceal
himself
from
the
eyes
of
justice
,
—
excited
the
suspicions
of
the
porter
,
it
is
impossible
to
say
.
But
that
glance
of
curiosity
was
only
momentary
.
Averting
his
eyes
from
our
hero
,
the
porter
placed
the
light
upon
the
floor
,
wished
him
a
good
night
's
rest
,
and
retired
.
But
to
the
surprise
and
annoyance
of
Markham
,
the
gipsy
locked
the
door
of
the
apartment
.
As
the
key
turned
with
a
grating
sound
,
a
tremor
crept
over
Richard
's
frame
;
and
he
almost
repented
having
sought
the
interior
of
an
abode
the
character
and
inmates
of
which
were
almost
entirely
unknown
to
him
.
Indeed
,
all
that
he
knew
of
either
was
derived
from
the
meagre
information
of
the
man
(
and
that
man
an
acknowledged
assassin
!
)
who
had
induced
him
to
visit
the
place
where
he
now
found
himself
.
"
How
weak
I
am
to
yield
to
this
sentiment
of
fear
!
"
he
exclaimed
.
"
Rather
let
me
determine
how
to
act
.
"
He
proceeded
to
examine
the
room
in
which
he
appeared
to
be
a
prisoner
.
The
numerous
beds
seemed
to
indicate
that
he
really
was
in
a
species
of
barrack
,
or
lodging-house
of
some
kind
;
and
this
circumstance
,
coupled
with
the
fact
that
the
porter
who
had
admitted
him
was
evidently
a
member
of
the
Egyptian
or
Bohemian
race
,
reassured
him
—
for
he
felt
convinced
that
he
was
actually
in
the
abode
of
gipsies
.
So
far
the
stranger
,
who
had
been
the
means
of
his
visit
to
that
strange
tenement
,
had
not
deceived
him
.
But
how
was
he
to
satisfy
himself
in
regard
to
the
Resurrection
Man
?
He
tried
the
door
—
it
was
indeed
fastened
;
he
examined
the
windows
—
they
were
not
barred
,
but
were
of
a
dangerous
height
from
the
back-yard
on
which
they
looked
.
Markham
paced
the
room
uncertain
how
to
act
.
Suddenly
his
reverie
was
interrupted
by
the
tread
of
many
steps
upon
the
stairs
;
and
then
a
species
of
subdued
bustle
took
place
throughout
the
house
.
The
whispering
of
voices
—
the
removal
of
heavy
objects
overhead
—
the
running
of
persons
hither
and
thither
—
and
the
opening
and
shutting
of
doors
,
announced
that
some
extraordinary
movement
was
taking
place
.
Richard
listened
with
breathless
anxiety
.
At
length
the
sounds
of
several
heavy
steps
,
in
the
landing
outside
his
door
,
met
his
ears
;
and
this
noise
was
at
short
intervals
varied
by
deep
groans
.
The
groans
seemed
to
accompany
the
tread
of
the
heavy
steps
just
mentioned
.
These
steps
and
those
expressions
of
human
suffering
grew
fainter
and
fainter
,
as
they
descended
the
stairs
,
until
at
length
they
were
no
longer
audible
.
Nevertheless
Markham
kept
his
ear
fixed
to
the
key-hole
of
his
chamber-door
.
Silence
now
once
more
reigned
throughout
the
house
;
but
in
a
few
minutes
the
noise
and
bustle
seemed
to
have
been
transferred
to
the
yard
.
Richard
hurried
to
the
window
;
but
the
moon
had
gone
down
and
the
darkness
without
was
intense
.
He
concealed
the
light
in
a
corner
of
the
room
,
and
then
gently
raised
one
of
the
windows
.
But
he
could
distinguish
nothing
with
his
eyes
;
and
the
sounds
that
met
his
ears
were
those
of
footsteps
bustling
to
and
fro
.
At
length
these
ceased
;
a
door
was
closed
at
the
end
of
the
yard
;
and
almost
immediately
afterwards
Richard
heard
,
in
the
same
direction
,
the
rumbling
noise
of
a
vehicle
moving
heavily
away
.
When
that
din
had
ceased
,
the
most
profound
tranquillity
prevailed
not
only
in
the
home
but
also
in
its
neighbourhood
.
That
silence
was
interrupted
only
for
a
few
moments
by
the
sonorous
bell
of
St.
Giles
's
Church
,
proclaiming
the
hour
of
three
.
"
Time
wears
on
,
"
said
Markham
impatiently
;
"
and
no
opportunity
of
satisfying
myself
upon
the
one
point
seems
to
present
itself
.
To
attempt
to
seek
repose
is
impossible
;
to
pass
the
dull
hours
in
suspense
like
this
is
intolerable
!
"
Then
he
seated
himself
on
one
of
the
beds
,
and
considered
what
course
he
should
pursue
.
Slowly
—
slowly
passed
the
time
;
and
though
he
revolved
in
his
mind
many
plans
,
he
could
fix
upon
none
.
At
length
the
clock
struck
four
.
"
The
hour
for
departure
will
come
,
and
I
shall
leave
this
house
as
full
of
doubt
and
uncertainty
as
when
I
entered
it
!
"
he
ejaculated
,
starting
up
.
His
eye
chanced
to
fall
upon
a
long
nail
in
the
wall
opposite
to
the
bed
from
which
he
had
just
risen
.
A
scheme
which
had
already
suggested
itself
to
his
mind
,
now
assumed
a
feasible
aspect
:
—
he
knew
that
the
door
was
only
locked
,
and
not
bolted
;
and
that
nail
seemed
to
promise
the
means
of
egress
.
He
,
however
,
first
examined
the
candle
which
had
been
left
him
,
and
which
still
burned
in
the
corner
where
he
had
concealed
it
:
—
to
his
joy
he
found
that
there
was
an
inch
remaining
.
"
With
the
assurance
of
light
for
another
half
hour
,
and
good
courage
,
"
he
said
to
himself
,
"
I
may
yet
accomplish
my
purpose
.
"
Having
extracted
the
nail
from
the
wall
,
he
proceeded
to
pick
the
lock
of
the
room-door
—
an
operation
which
he
successfully
achieved
in
a
few
minutes
.
Without
a
moment
's
hesitation
,
he
issued
from
the
room
,
bearing
the
candle
in
his
hand
.
As
he
crossed
the
landing
towards
the
staircase
,
which
he
resolved
to
ascend
,
his
foot
came
in
contact
with
some
object
.
He
picked
it
up
:
it
was
an
old
greasy
pocket-book
,
tied
loosely
round
with
a
coarse
string
,
and
as
Markham
raised
it
,
a
letter
dropped
out
.
Richard
was
in
the
act
of
replacing
the
document
in
the
pocket-book
,
which
he
intended
to
leave
upon
the
stairs
,
so
as
to
attract
the
notice
of
the
inmates
of
the
house
,
when
the
address
on
the
outside
of
the
letter
caught
his
eyes
.
The
candle
nearly
fell
from
his
hand
,
so
great
was
the
astonishment
which
immediately
seized
upon
him
.
That
address
consisted
simply
of
the
words
"
Anthony
Tidkins
!
"
—
but
the
handwriting
—
Oh
!
there
was
no
possibility
of
mistaking
that
!
Markham
knew
it
so
well
;
and
though
years
had
elapsed
since
he
had
last
seen
it
,
still
it
was
familiar
to
him
as
his
own
—
the
more
so
,
as
it
remained
unchanged
in
style
;
—
for
it
was
the
writing
of
his
brother
Eugene
!
With
a
hasty
but
trembling
hand
he
opened
the
letter
,
the
wafer
of
which
had
already
been
broken
;
—
he
did
not
hesitate
to
read
the
contents
;
—
judging
by
his
own
frank
and
generous
heart
,
he
conceived
that
such
a
licence
was
permitted
between
brothers
.
Moreover
,
he
experienced
a
profound
and
painful
anxiety
to
ascertain
what
link
could
connect
his
brother
with
the
terrible
individual
to
whom
the
letter
was
addressed
.
But
all
that
the
letter
contained
was
this
:
—
"
Come
to
me
to-night
without
fail
,
between
eleven
and
twelve
.
Knock
in
the
usual
manner
.
"
Richard
examined
the
handwriting
with
the
most
minute
attention
;
and
the
longer
he
scrutinized
it
,
the
more
he
became
confirmed
in
his
belief
that
it
was
Eugene
's
.
But
Eugene
a
patron
or
colleague
of
the
greatest
miscreant
that
had
ever
disgraced
human
nature
!
Was
such
a
thing
possible
?
The
letter
bore
no
date
—
no
signature
—
and
was
addressed
from
no
place
.
It
had
no
post-mark
upon
it
,
and
had
,
therefore
,
evidently
been
delivered
by
a
private
hand
.
"
Oh
!
"
thought
Richard
within
himself
,
"
if
my
unhappy
brother
have
really
been
the
victim
,
the
associate
,
or
the
employer
of
that
incarnate
demon
,
may
God
grant
that
the
wretch
is
indeed
no
more
—
for
the
sake
of
Eugene
!
"
And
then
his
curiosity
to
ascertain
the
truth
relative
to
the
alleged
assassination
of
Tidkins
,
became
more
poignant
.
"
It
must
be
so
!
"
reasoned
Markham
within
himself
;
"
that
stranger
has
not
deceived
me
:
—
the
presence
of
this
pocket-book
here
is
an
undeniable
trace
of
the
miscreant
.
Oh
,
how
much
it
now
behoves
me
to
convince
myself
that
he
is
indeed
removed
from
the
theatre
of
his
crimes
!
"
Subduing
as
much
as
possible
the
painful
emotions
which
that
letter
had
suddenly
excited
within
him
,
Markham
secured
the
pocket-book
about
his
person
;
for
now
that
accident
had
revealed
to
him
to
whom
it
belonged
,
he
did
not
consider
himself
called
upon
to
part
with
an
object
which
,
in
case
the
statement
of
Tidkins
'
death
should
prove
untrue
,
might
contain
some
paper
calculated
to
afford
a
clue
to
his
haunts
or
proceedings
.
Scarcely
decided
in
what
manner
to
pursue
his
investigation
in
that
house
,
and
trusting
more
to
accident
than
to
any
settled
plan
to
aid
him
in
testing
the
truth
of
the
self-accused
stranger
's
statement
relative
to
Tidkins
,
—
Markham
stole
softly
up
the
staircase
.
Arrived
on
the
first
landing
to
which
it
led
,
he
listened
attentively
at
the
various
doors
which
opened
from
it
.
All
was
silent
as
death
within
the
rooms
to
which
those
doors
belonged
.
Not
even
the
sound
of
human
respiration
met
his
ears
.
Could
it
be
possible
that
the
house
was
deserted
?
Perhaps
the
bustle
which
he
had
heard
ere
now
was
caused
by
the
departure
of
its
occupants
?
As
this
idea
grew
upon
him
,
he
was
emboldened
to
try
the
latch
of
one
of
the
doors
at
which
he
had
already
listened
.
It
yielded
to
his
hand
;
he
pushed
the
door
open
with
great
caution
,
and
entered
the
chamber
.
Not
a
human
soul
was
there
.
He
visited
the
other
rooms
upon
that
landing
,
the
doors
of
which
were
all
unlocked
;
and
they
were
alike
untenanted
.
There
was
another
storey
above
;
and
thither
he
proceeded
.
The
first
three
rooms
which
he
entered
were
empty
,
like
the
preceding
ones
;
but
in
the
fourth
there
were
three
men
.
They
were
,
however
,
fast
asleep
in
their
beds
;
and
Richard
's
visit
was
so
noiseless
that
they
were
not
in
the
least
disturbed
.
Hastily
retreating
,
and
closing
the
door
carefully
behind
him
,
Markham
descended
to
the
landing
on
which
his
own
room
opened
,
and
where
he
had
found
the
pocket-book
.
On
that
floor
were
four
apartments
,
as
on
each
of
the
upper
flats
,
in
addition
to
the
porter
's
lodge
,
which
,
it
will
be
remembered
,
was
precisely
over
the
lobby
below
.
To
avoid
elaborate
detail
,
we
may
state
that
Markham
found
the
doors
of
the
other
three
rooms
(
besides
his
own
)
on
the
first
floor
unlocked
,
and
the
chambers
themselves
untenanted
.
He
was
about
to
leave
the
last
room
,
when
the
appearance
of
one
of
the
beds
attracted
his
attention
;
and
on
a
closer
examination
,
he
perceived
that
it
was
saturated
with
blood
.
Moreover
,
on
a
chair
close
by
,
there
were
pieces
of
linen
rag
,
on
which
large
stains
of
gore
were
scarcely
dry
,
together
with
lint
and
bandages
—
unquestionable
proofs
that
a
wound
had
very
recently
been
dressed
in
that
apartment
.
"
No
—
that
self-accuser
has
not
deceived
me
!
"
thought
Markham
,
as
he
contemplated
these
objects
.
"
All
circumstances
combine
to
bear
evidence
to
the
truth
of
his
assertion
!
Doubtless
the
gipsies
have
departed
,
carrying
away
the
corpse
with
them
!
"
He
stood
gazing
on
the
blood-dyed
bed
at
his
feet
musing
in
this
manner
;
and
then
he
thought
how
fearful
was
the
fate
of
the
miscreant
,
the
evidences
of
whose
death
he
believed
to
be
beneath
his
eyes
,
cut
off
in
the
midst
of
his
crimes
without
a
moment
's
preparation
or
repentance
!
But
suddenly
he
asked
himself
—
"
Am
I
certain
that
he
is
no
more
?
That
lint
to
stanch
the
blood
—
those
bandages
to
bind
the
wound
,
—
do
they
not
rather
bear
testimony
to
a
blow
which
was
not
fatal
,
but
left
life
behind
it
?
And
yet
,
for
what
purpose
could
the
body
be
removed
—
save
for
secret
interment
?
Oh
!
if
that
man
be
yet
alive
—
and
if
Eugene
be
indeed
his
accomplice
or
his
patron
—
—
"
And
Markham
experienced
emotions
of
the
most
intense
anguish
!
He
loved
his
brother
with
the
most
ardent
affection
;
and
the
idea
that
the
individual
so
loved
could
be
a
criminal
,
or
the
friend
of
criminals
,
was
harrowing
to
his
soul
.
"
But
,
after
all
,
"
thought
Richard
,
his
naturally
upright
and
almost
severe
principles
asserting
their
empire
in
his
mind
,
—
"
after
all
,
ought
I
not
to
rejoice
,
if
this
man
be
indeed
still
alive
,
that
he
has
survived
the
assassin
's
blow
—
that
he
is
allowed
leisure
for
repentance
!
My
Maker
,
who
can
read
all
hearts
,
knows
that
I
am
not
selfish
;
and
yet
it
is
a
principle
of
our
frail
human
nature
to
rejoice
at
the
fall
of
a
deadly
enemy
!
Oh
!
when
I
think
of
all
the
wrongs
and
injuries
I
have
experienced
at
the
hands
of
that
man
,
—
exposures
—
persecutions
—
attempts
upon
my
life
,
—
I
cannot
pray
that
he
may
live
to
be
the
scourge
of
others
—
and
perhaps
of
my
brother
—
as
he
has
been
of
me
!
"
Unwilling
to
contend
longer
with
the
varied
emotions
which
agitated
his
breast
,
Markham
hurried
from
the
room
.
The
lower
part
of
the
house
yet
remained
to
be
explored
:
—
perhaps
the
body
—
if
the
Resurrection
Man
were
indeed
dead
—
had
been
removed
to
a
room
on
the
ground
floor
?
Determined
to
leave
no
stone
unturned
to
satisfy
his
doubts
,
Markham
cautiously
descended
the
stairs
,
and
visited
the
refectory-rooms
,
one
after
the
other
.
They
were
all
empty
.
His
candle
was
now
waxing
dim
;
but
he
saw
that
his
search
was
nearly
over
.
A
flight
of
steps
,
apparently
leading
to
offices
in
the
basement
of
the
building
,
alone
remained
for
him
to
visit
.
To
that
part
of
the
house
he
descended
,
and
found
himself
in
a
small
place
which
had
the
appearance
of
a
scullery
.
On
one
side
was
a
massive
door
,
secured
with
huge
bolts
,
and
evidently
leading
into
a
vault
or
cellar
.
But
scarcely
had
Markham
time
to
cast
one
glance
around
him
in
the
subterranean
,
when
the
candle
flickered
and
expired
.
At
the
same
moment
a
hollow
groan
echoed
through
the
basement
.
Richard
started
:
he
was
in
total
darkness
—
and
a
momentary
tremor
came
over
him
.
The
groan
was
repeated
.
His
fears
vanished
;
and
he
immediately
concluded
that
the
Resurrection
Man
,
wounded
and
suffering
,
must
be
somewhere
near
.
At
that
idea
,
all
sentiments
of
aversion
,
hatred
,
and
abhorrence
,
—
all
reminiscence
of
injury
and
wrong
,
fled
from
the
mind
of
that
generous-hearted
young
man
:
he
thought
only
that
a
fellow-creature
was
in
anguish
and
in
pain
—
perhaps
neglected
,
and
left
to
die
without
a
soul
to
administer
consolation
!
Reckless
of
the
danger
which
he
might
incur
by
alarming
the
inmates
of
the
house
,
he
determined
upon
rousing
the
porter
in
order
to
obtain
a
light
.
He
turned
from
the
scullery
,
and
was
rushing
up
the
stone
steps
in
pursuance
of
his
humane
intention
,
when
he
suddenly
came
in
violent
contact
with
a
person
who
was
descending
the
same
stairs
.
CHAPTER
CXLI
.
THE
SUBTERRANEAN
.
The
violence
of
the
concussion
threw
Richard
backwards
;
and
in
a
moment
he
felt
the
rough
hand
of
a
man
grasp
him
by
the
throat
.
"
Who
is
it
?
"
was
the
demand
simultaneously
put
to
him
.
"
I
will
answer
you
when
we
are
on
equal
terms
,
"
replied
Markham
;
and
,
hurling
the
man
away
from
him
,
he
sprang
upon
his
feet
.
"
Now
—
stand
off
,
"
he
cried
;
"
for
I
am
not
to
be
injured
with
impunity
.
"
"
I
do
n't
want
to
injure
you
,
"
said
the
man
.
"
But
who
are
you
?
I
know
by
your
voice
that
you
're
not
one
of
us
.
"
"
You
then
are
an
inmate
of
this
house
?
"
observed
Markham
,
fencing
with
the
other
's
question
.
At
that
instant
another
hollow
groan
echoed
through
the
subterranean
.
"
She
lives
!
"
cried
the
man
;
and
in
another
moment
Markham
heard
him
drawing
back
the
bolts
of
the
massive
door
which
he
had
observed
in
the
scullery
.
Richard
groped
his
way
towards
him
,
and
said
,
"
She
lives
?
whom
do
you
allude
to
?
Surely
there
cannot
be
a
female
imprisoned
—
—
"
"
Be
silent
,
in
the
name
of
heaven
!
"
interrupted
the
man
,
in
a
whisper
.
"
The
life
of
an
unhappy
woman
depends
upon
your
secrecy
—
whoever
you
may
be
.
"
"
Then
would
I
rather
aid
than
harm
you
and
her
,
both
,
"
answered
Markham
.
Another
groan
was
heard
;
and
Richard
could
now
distinguish
the
direction
from
which
it
came
.
But
still
the
massive
door
remained
unopened
.
"
This
bolt
,
—
this
bolt
!
"
muttered
the
man
in
a
tone
expressive
of
commingled
rage
and
despair
.
"
Oh
!
for
a
light
!
"
"
Can
you
not
procure
one
?
"
demanded
Richard
.
"
Stay
,
"
said
the
man
—
"
a
good
thought
!
There
should
be
candles
somewhere
here
—
and
matches
.
By
Jove
!
here
is
a
candle
—
and
,
on
this
shelf
—
yes
—
here
are
matches
also
!
"
The
man
struck
a
light
.
By
a
natural
impulse
he
and
Markham
immediately
cast
scrutinising
glances
at
each
other
.
"
Ah
!
I
thought
so
by
your
voice
—
you
are
a
gentleman
,
"
said
the
man
:
"
then
you
will
not
betray
me
?
"
"
Betray
you
!
"
repeated
Markham
,
surprised
at
this
observation
.
"
I
will
tell
you
what
I
mean
presently
:
there
is
no
time
to
be
lost
!
Hark
—
another
groan
:
she
is
dying
!
"
The
man
,
who
was
tall
and
good-looking
,
and
evidently
not
a
scion
of
the
Bohemian
race
—
gave
Markham
the
candle
,
and
proceeded
to
open
the
massive
door
,
the
presence
of
the
light
enabling
him
to
remove
the
fastenings
with
ease
.
He
then
beckoned
Richard
to
follow
him
into
the
cellar
,
where
he
instantly
set
to
work
to
draw
the
bolts
of
a
second
door
.
This
task
was
speedily
accomplished
;
and
as
the
door
grated
upon
its
hinges
,
another
heart-wrung
moan
emanated
from
the
interior
of
the
second
vault
.
The
man
rushed
in
;
Markham
followed
with
the
light
,
and
beheld
a
woman
stretched
almost
lifeless
upon
the
mattress
.
The
groans
had
all
along
emanated
from
her
lips
:
—
then
where
was
the
Resurrection
Man
?
"
Margaret
—
cheer
up
—
it
's
me
—
it
's
Skilligalee
—
I
'm
come
to
save
you
,
"
said
the
protector
of
the
Rattlesnake
as
he
bent
over
her
.
"
How
long
has
she
been
immured
here
?
"
inquired
Markham
.
"
Only
three
or
four
hours
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
;
"
and
so
it
must
be
fright
that
has
half
killed
her
.
Pray
get
some
water
,
sir
—
there
's
plenty
in
the
scullery
.
"
Markham
hastened
to
comply
with
this
request
;
and
Skilligalee
bathed
the
woman
's
face
with
the
refreshing
element
.
She
opened
her
eyes
,
and
a
smile
came
over
her
faded
countenance
as
she
caught
sight
of
the
friendly
face
that
greeted
her
fearful
glance
.
"
How
long
have
I
been
here
?
"
asked
the
Rattlesnake
in
a
faint
tone
,
while
her
whole
frame
was
convulsed
with
terror
as
recent
events
rushed
to
her
mind
.
"
Not
many
hours
,
Meg
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
.
"
And
you
will
not
leave
me
here
any
longer
?
"
she
said
.
"
Oh
!
do
not
let
me
die
in
this
horrible
place
!
"
"
I
am
come
to
save
you
,
"
returned
Skilligalee
.
"
Are
you
able
to
get
up
and
walk
?
"
"
Yes
—
for
the
sake
of
freedom
,
"
cried
the
Rattlesnake
,
rising
from
the
mattress
.
"
But
who
is
that
?
"
she
added
,
as
her
eyes
now
fell
upon
Markham
for
the
first
time
.
"
That
's
exactly
what
I
do
n't
know
myself
,
"
said
Skilligalee
.
"
The
gentleman
has
,
however
,
behaved
himself
as
such
;
and
that
's
enough
for
us
.
Hark
!
there
's
the
clock
on
the
staircase
striking
five
?
We
have
n't
much
time
to
lose
:
come
on
.
"
Markham
led
the
way
with
the
light
:
Skilligalee
followed
,
supporting
the
Rattlesnake
,
who
was
weak
and
exhausted
with
the
effects
of
extreme
terror
.
"
Which
way
shall
we
go
?
"
she
inquired
,
as
they
paused
for
a
moment
in
the
scullery
,
to
listen
if
all
were
quiet
.
"
By
the
back
gate
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
.
"
I
have
secured
the
key
.
The
porter
keeps
the
keys
of
the
front
door
.
"
"
And
what
has
become
of
him
—
that
dreadful
man
who
was
the
cause
of
all
this
misery
?
"
asked
the
Rattlesnake
.
"
Was
he
killed
by
the
blow
that
the
Traveller
dealt
him
with
his
long
dagger
?
"
These
words
struck
a
chord
which
vibrated
to
Markham
's
heart
.
"
Was
any
one
wounded
in
this
house
during
the
night
?
"
he
demanded
hastily
.
Skilligalee
hesitated
:
he
knew
not
who
Markham
was
,
nor
what
might
be
the
consequences
of
a
reply
consistent
with
the
truth
.
"
Answer
me
,
I
conjure
you
,
"
continued
Richard
,
perceiving
this
unwillingness
to
satisfy
his
curiosity
.
"
I
have
every
reason
to
believe
that
a
person
whose
name
is
Anthony
Tidkins
—
—
"
"
Oh
!
yes
—
yes
,
"
murmured
the
Rattlesnake
,
with
a
convulsive
shudder
.
"
Then
I
have
not
been
deceived
!
"
cried
Markham
.
"
That
individual
,
who
is
better
known
as
the
Resurrection
Man
,
was
dangerously
wounded
—
if
not
killed
—
in
this
house
a
few
hours
since
.
"
You
,
"
he
continued
,
addressing
himself
to
Skilligalee
,
"
are
evidently
acquainted
with
the
particulars
of
the
occurrence
:
as
I
have
assisted
you
to
liberate
this
woman
who
seems
dear
to
you
,
reward
me
by
telling
me
all
you
know
of
that
event
.
"
"
First
tell
me
who
you
are
,
"
said
Skilligalee
.
"
And
be
quick
—
I
have
no
time
for
conversation
.
"
"
Suffice
it
for
you
to
know
that
I
am
one
whom
the
Resurrection
Man
has
cruelly
injured
.
Twice
has
he
attempted
my
life
:
once
at
his
den
in
Bethnal
Green
,
and
again
on
the
banks
of
the
canal
at
Twig
Folly
—
—
"
"
Then
you
,
sir
,
are
Mr.
Markham
?
"
interrupted
be
Rattlesnake
.
"
Oh
!
I
know
how
you
have
been
treated
by
that
fearful
man
;
and
there
is
no
necessity
to
conceal
the
truth
from
you
!
Yes
—
sir
,
it
is
true
that
the
wretch
who
has
persecuted
you
was
stabbed
in
this
house
;
and
—
if
I
did
not
believe
that
the
wound
was
mortal
—
—
"
Here
the
Rattlesnake
stopped
,
and
leant
heavily
upon
Skilligalee
for
support
—
so
profoundly
was
she
terrified
at
the
mere
possibility
of
Anthony
Tidkins
being
still
in
existence
.
Her
companion
perceived
her
emotion
,
and
fathoming
its
cause
,
hastened
to
exclaim
,
"
But
he
is
no
more
!
You
need
dread
him
no
longer
.
"
"
Are
you
sure
?
are
you
well
convinced
of
this
?
"
demanded
Markham
.
"
I
saw
him
breathe
his
last
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
Where
?
Not
in
this
house
?
"
cried
Richard
.
"
No
,
"
returned
Skilligalee
.
"
Between
two
and
three
this
morning
the
King
,
his
family
,
and
all
the
Zingarees
,
except
those
who
stay
to
take
care
of
this
establishment
,
took
their
departure
;
and
I
was
compelled
to
go
along
with
them
.
In
consequence
of
some
communication
between
the
person
you
call
the
Resurrection
Man
and
Aischa
,
the
Queen
of
the
Zingarees
,
after
he
was
badly
wounded
by
the
Traveller
—
—
"
"
How
do
you
call
the
individual
who
attacked
him
?
"
demanded
Richard
.
"
The
Traveller
,
"
answered
the
Skilligalee
.
"
But
,
it
appears
,
that
he
had
another
name
—
Crankey
Jem
:
at
least
,
he
said
so
after
he
had
stabbed
the
man
.
"
"
I
should
know
that
name
,
"
said
Richard
,
musing
.
"
Oh
!
I
remember
!
Proceed
.
"
"
Well
—
in
consequence
of
something
that
the
Resurrection
Man
told
Aischa
,
when
she
was
attending
to
his
wound
,
it
was
determined
to
take
him
along
with
us
;
and
four
of
our
men
carried
him
down
to
the
van
which
was
waiting
at
the
back
gate
.
He
groaned
very
much
while
he
was
being
removed
.
"
"
I
heard
him
,
"
said
Richard
,
instantaneously
recalling
to
mind
the
groans
which
had
met
his
ears
when
he
was
listening
at
his
chamber
door
to
the
bustle
of
the
gipsies
'
departure
.
"
You
heard
him
?
"
repeated
Skilligalee
.
"
Yes
—
I
was
in
the
house
at
the
time
.
Proceed
.
"
"
We
conveyed
him
down
to
the
van
,
where
we
laid
him
on
a
mattress
,
and
he
seemed
to
fall
asleep
.
Then
we
all
divided
into
twos
and
threes
,
and
got
safe
out
of
London
,
into
a
field
near
the
Pentonville
Penitentiary
.
But
when
the
van
,
with
Aischa
,
Eva
,
and
Morcar
,
—
those
are
some
of
our
people
,
sir
,
—
came
to
the
place
of
appointment
,
we
found
,
"
added
Skilligalee
,
his
voice
assuming
a
peculiar
tone
,
"
that
the
Resurrection
Man
was
dead
.
"
"
God
be
thanked
!
"
ejaculated
the
Rattlesnake
,
with
a
fervour
which
made
Markham
's
blood
run
cold
.
"
And
now
that
I
have
told
you
all
I
know
,
sir
,
"
said
Skilligalee
,
"
you
will
have
no
objection
if
me
and
my
companion
here
go
about
our
business
;
for
it
is
dangerous
to
both
our
interests
to
remain
here
any
longer
.
"
Skilligalee
uttered
these
words
in
his
usually
jocular
manner
;
for
he
was
anxious
to
reassure
his
female
companion
,
who
still
laboured
under
an
excess
of
terror
that
seemed
ready
to
prostrate
all
her
energies
.
"
Yes
—
let
us
leave
this
fearful
den
,
"
said
Markham
:
"
to
me
it
appears
replete
with
horrors
of
all
kinds
.
"
Skilligalee
now
took
the
candle
and
led
the
way
,
still
supporting
Margaret
Flathers
on
his
arm
.
They
all
three
effected
their
egress
from
the
palace
without
any
obstacle
.
When
they
were
safe
in
the
alley
with
which
the
back
gate
communicated
,
Markham
said
to
Skilligalee
,
"
From
what
I
can
understand
,
you
have
fled
from
the
gipsies
in
order
to
return
and
liberate
your
companion
from
the
dungeon
where
we
found
her
.
"
"
That
is
precisely
what
I
did
,
"
answered
Skilligalee
.
"
I
gave
them
the
slip
when
they
had
set
up
their
tents
in
the
field
near
the
Penitentiary
.
"
"
It
is
probable
that
you
are
not
too
well
provided
with
pecuniary
resources
,
"
said
Richard
:
"
the
contents
of
my
purse
are
at
your
service
.
"
"
Thank
you
kindly
,
sir
—
very
kindly
,
"
returned
Skilligalee
.
"
I
am
not
in
want
of
such
assistance
.
"
Markham
vainly
pressed
his
offer
:
it
was
declined
with
many
expressions
of
gratitude
.
The
truth
was
that
Skilligalee
had
the
greater
portion
of
his
share
of
Margaret
's
gold
still
remaining
;
and
there
was
something
so
generous
and
so
noble
in
the
manner
of
Richard
Markham
,
that
he
could
not
find
it
in
his
heart
to
impose
upon
him
by
taking
a
sum
of
which
he
did
not
stand
in
immediate
need
.
"
At
all
events
,
let
me
advise
you
to
avoid
such
companions
as
those
with
whom
you
appear
to
have
been
allied
,
"
observed
Richard
,
"
and
who
are
cruel
enough
to
immure
a
female
in
a
subterranean
dungeon
.
"
"
I
shall
not
neglect
your
advice
,
sir
,
"
returned
Skilligalee
;
"
and
may
God
bless
you
for
it
.
"
"
And
you
,
"
continued
Richard
,
addressing
himself
to
Margaret
Flathers
,
"
second
your
companion
in
his
good
intentions
.
I
know
not
what
deed
on
your
part
could
have
led
to
your
incarceration
in
that
cell
—
neither
do
I
seek
to
know
;
—
but
to
you
I
would
give
similar
advice
—
avoid
those
whose
ways
are
criminal
,
and
whose
vengeance
is
as
terrific
as
it
is
lawless
.
Farewell
.
"
"
May
God
bless
you
,
sir
,
for
your
good
counsel
!
"
said
Margaret
Flathers
,
weeping
.
She
had
not
merely
repeated
,
with
parrot-like
callousness
,
the
words
uttered
by
her
companion
:
that
benediction
emanated
with
fervid
sincerity
from
a
heart
deeply
penetrated
by
anxiety
to
renew
a
long-forgotten
acquaintance
with
rectitude
.
"
Farewell
,
sir
,
"
said
Skilligalee
.
He
and
the
Rattlesnake
then
struck
into
one
of
the
streets
with
which
the
alley
at
the
back
of
the
gipsies
'
palace
communicated
.
Richard
took
another
direction
on
his
way
homewards
.
CHAPTER
CXLII
.
GIBBET
.
A
fortnight
had
passed
since
the
incidents
just
related
.
It
was
a
Monday
morning
.
The
clock
of
St.
Giles
's
had
just
struck
six
,
when
the
faint
,
flickering
gleam
of
a
candle
struggled
through
the
uppermost
windows
of
the
hangman
's
house
.
The
few
persons
who
were
passing
along
at
that
hour
,
and
on
that
dark
winter
's
morning
,
shuddered
as
they
caught
a
glimpse
of
the
sickly
glare
through
the
obscurity
and
the
mist
—
for
they
thought
within
themselves
,
"
The
executioner
is
up
early
on
account
of
the
man
that
's
to
be
hanged
at
eight
o'clock
.
"
And
such
was
indeed
the
case
.
Smithers
rose
shortly
before
six
;
and
,
having
lighted
the
solitary
candle
that
stood
upon
the
mantel
,
proceeded
to
the
floor
below
to
call
his
son
.
"
Gibbet
,
you
lazy
hound
!
"
he
cried
,
thundering
with
his
fist
at
the
door
of
the
hump-back
's
room
;
"
get
up
.
"
"
I
'm
getting
up
,
father
,
"
replied
the
lad
,
from
the
interior
of
the
chamber
.
"
Well
,
make
haste
about
it
,
"
said
the
executioner
in
a
savage
tone
.
He
then
returned
to
the
loft
.
There
was
something
horribly
fantastic
in
the
appearance
of
that
place
.
The
dim
and
sickly
light
of
the
candle
did
but
little
more
than
redeem
from
complete
obscurity
the
various
strange
objects
which
we
have
already
described
.
But
as
the
penetrating
eye
of
the
executioner
plunged
into
the
visible
darkness
of
the
loft
,
and
beheld
the
ominous
figure
balancing
beneath
the
beam
,
while
its
mask
of
a
livid
white
hue
wore
a
ghastly
appearance
in
contrast
with
the
black
body
and
limbs
which
it
surmounted
,
—
no
sentiment
of
horror
nor
of
alarm
agitated
his
heart
.
The
avocations
of
the
man
had
brutalized
him
,
and
blunted
every
humane
feeling
which
he
had
once
possessed
.
He
walked
up
and
down
the
room
impatiently
for
several
minutes
,
until
the
door
opened
and
his
son
entered
.
The
hideous
countenance
of
the
lad
was
ghastly
pale
,
and
distorted
with
horror
.
His
eyes
glared
fearfully
,
as
if
terrific
apparitions
flitted
before
them
.
"
Gibbet
,
"
said
his
father
,
"
you
shall
try
your
hand
this
morning
on
a
living
being
instead
of
a
puppet
.
"
"
This
morning
!
"
repeated
the
lad
,
his
teeth
chattering
,
and
his
knees
knocking
together
.
"
To
be
sure
.
Did
n't
I
tell
you
so
last
night
?
"
cried
the
executioner
.
"
Why
,
you
hump-backed
scoundrel
,
you
—
you
ought
to
have
prayed
that
no
reprieve
might
be
sent
for
the
chap
that
's
to
be
tucked
up
this
morning
,
instead
of
working
yourself
up
to
this
state
of
cowardly
nervousness
.
But
I
'll
take
it
out
of
you
,
I
will
.
"
With
these
words
,
Smithers
seized
his
leathern
thong
,
and
was
advancing
towards
the
hump-back
,
when
the
wretched
lad
threw
himself
on
his
knees
,
clasped
his
hands
together
,
and
cried
,
"
No
,
—
do
n't
,
father
—
do
n't
!
I
ca
n't
bear
that
lash
!
You
do
n't
know
how
it
hurts
.
—
I
'll
do
all
you
tell
me
.
"
"
Well
,
that
's
speaking
proper
—
that
is
,
"
said
the
executioner
,
dropping
the
already
uplifted
thong
.
"
It
's
all
for
your
good
that
I
use
it
now
and
then
,
Gibbet
.
Do
n't
I
want
to
make
a
man
of
you
?
Look
at
the
money
you
can
earn
if
you
'll
only
make
yourself
a
name
like
me
.
D'ye
think
the
sheriffs
throughout
England
would
all
apply
to
me
to
do
their
work
for
them
,
if
I
was
n't
celebrated
for
my
skill
?
Why
—
even
the
criminals
themselves
must
look
upon
it
as
a
regular
blessing
to
have
such
a
knowing
hand
as
me
to
tie
their
last
cravat
for
them
.
I
'd
bet
a
pound
that
the
man
who
's
to
be
turned
off
presently
,
is
n't
half
as
miserable
as
people
think
—
'
cos
why
,
he
's
well
aware
that
I
sha
n't
put
him
to
no
pain
.
"
"
I
know
you
've
got
a
great
name
in
your
business
,
father
—
—
"
"
We
'll
call
it
profession
in
future
,
Gibbet
;
it
's
more
genteel
.
And
,
after
all
,
it
's
as
good
as
a
barrister
's
;
for
the
barrister
gets
the
man
hanged
—
and
I
hang
him
.
That
's
all
the
difference
.
"
"
I
know
it
's
very
respectable
,
father
,
"
resumed
the
lad
,
submissively
;
"
but
—
still
—
I
—
—
"
"
Still
what
?
"
cried
Smithers
,
savagely
,
and
taking
up
the
thong
again
.
"
Nothing
—
nothing
,
father
,
"
faltered
Gibbet
.
"
So
much
the
better
.
Now
come
to
the
model
,
and
take
and
pinion
the
figure
—
'
cos
that
's
what
I
mean
you
to
do
presently
down
at
Newgate
.
Begin
by
degrees
,
as
the
saying
is
;
you
shall
pinion
this
man
to
day
;
you
shall
let
the
drop
fall
for
the
next
—
and
you
shall
put
the
halter
on
the
one
that
comes
arter
him
,
whoever
he
may
be
.
"
"
Must
I
—
pin
—
in
—
ion
the
man
this
morning
,
father
?
"
inquired
the
lad
,
the
workings
of
whose
countenance
were
now
absolutely
terrific
.
"
Must
you
?
Of
course
you
must
,
"
answered
Smithers
.
"
Why
,
what
the
devil
are
you
snivelling
at
now
?
I
'd
wager
a
crown
to
a
brass
farthin
'
that
there
's
many
a
young
nobleman
who
'd
give
fifty
pounds
to
be
able
to
do
it
.
Look
how
they
hire
the
winders
opposite
Newgate
!
Lord
bless
their
souls
,
it
does
me
good
to
think
that
the
aristocracy
and
gentry
patronises
hanging
as
well
as
the
other
fine
arts
.
What
would
become
of
the
executioners
if
they
did
n't
?
Why
—
the
legislature
would
abolish
capital
punishment
at
once
.
"
Gibbet
clasped
his
hands
together
,
and
raised
his
eyes
in
an
imploring
manner
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
"
Oh
!
how
I
wish
they
would
!
"
Fortunately
for
him
,
his
father
did
not
perceive
this
expression
of
emotion
,
for
the
executioner
had
approached
the
candle
to
the
model-gallows
,
and
was
now
busily
occupied
in
arranging
the
figure
for
his
son
's
practice
.
"
I
'll
tell
you
who
are
the
patrons
of
my
business
—
profession
,
I
mean
,
"
continued
the
executioner
;
"
and
if
you
had
a
grain
of
feeling
for
your
father
,
you
'd
go
down
on
your
knees
night
and
morning
and
pray
for
them
.
The
old
Tories
and
the
Clergy
are
my
friends
;
and
,
thank
God
!
I
'm
a
stanch
Tory
,
too
.
I
hate
changes
.
What
have
changes
done
?
Why
swept
away
the
good
old
laws
that
used
to
hang
a
man
for
stealing
anything
above
forty
shillings
.
Ah
!
George
the
Third
was
the
best
king
we
ever
had
!
He
used
to
tuck
'
em
up
—
three
,
four
,
five
,
six
—
aye
,
seven
at
once
!
Folks
may
well
talk
of
the
good
old
times
—
when
an
executioner
could
make
his
twenty
or
thirty
guineas
of
a
morning
!
I
'd
sooner
take
two
guineas
for
each
man
under
such
an
excellent
system
,
than
have
the
ten
pounds
as
I
do
now
.
"
While
Smithers
was
thus
talking
,
he
had
lowered
the
figure
until
it
stood
upon
the
drop
.
He
then
took
off
the
halter
;
but
the
puppet
still
retained
its
upright
position
,
because
it
was
well
stiffened
and
had
heavy
plates
of
lead
fastened
to
the
soles
of
its
feet
.
"
Now
what
a
cry
the
rascally
radical
Sunday
papers
make
against
the
people
they
call
the
saints
,
"
continued
Smithers
,
as
he
unfastened
the
cord
which
pinioned
the
arms
of
the
puppet
;
"
and
yet
those
very
saints
are
the
ones
that
are
most
in
favour
of
punishment
of
death
.
For
my
part
,
I
adore
the
saints
—
I
do
.
When
Fitzmorris
Shelley
brought
forward
his
measure
to
do
away
with
capital
penalty
,
did
n't
Dinglis
and
Cherrytree
and
all
those
pious
men
make
a
stand
against
him
?
And
do
n't
they
know
what
's
right
and
proper
?
Of
course
they
do
!
Ah
!
I
never
read
so
much
of
House
of
Commons
'
business
before
,
as
I
did
then
:
—
but
I
was
in
a
precious
fright
,
it
's
true
.
I
thought
of
calling
a
public
meeting
of
all
the
executioners
in
the
kingdom
to
petition
Parliament
against
the
measure
;
but
I
did
n't
do
it
—
because
the
House
of
Commons
might
have
thought
that
we
was
interested
.
"
Smithers
paused
for
a
moment
,
and
contemplated
the
puppet
and
the
model-gallows
with
great
admiration
.
He
had
fashioned
the
one
and
built
the
latter
himself
;
and
he
was
not
a
little
proud
of
his
handiwork
.
"
Now
,
come
,
Gibbet
,
"
he
at
length
exclaimed
;
"
it
's
all
ready
.
Do
you
hear
me
,
you
infernal
hump-back
?
"
"
And
if
I
am
a
hump-back
,
father
,
"
returned
the
lad
,
bursting
into
tears
,
"
you
know
—
—
"
"
What
?
"
cried
the
executioner
his
countenance
assuming
an
expression
truly
ferocious
.
"
You
know
that
it
is
n't
my
fault
,
"
added
the
unfortunate
youth
,
shrinking
from
the
glance
of
his
savage
parent
.
"
None
of
this
nonsense
,
Gibbet
,
"
said
the
man
,
a
little
softened
by
the
reminiscence
that
he
himself
had
made
his
son
the
object
of
the
very
reproach
levelled
against
his
personal
deformity
.
"
Come
and
try
your
hand
at
this
work
for
a
few
minutes
before
breakfast
;
and
then
we
'll
go
down
yonder
together
.
"
Gibbet
approached
the
model-gallows
;
but
his
countenance
still
denoted
the
most
profoundly-rooted
disgust
and
abhorrence
.
"
Let
's
suppose
that
the
culprit
is
as
yet
in
his
own
cell
,
Gibbet
,
"
continued
the
executioner
.
"
Well
,
it
's
time
to
pinion
him
,
we
'll
say
;
there
's
the
sheriffs
standing
there
—
and
here
's
the
chaplain
.
Now
,
you
go
for'ard
and
begin
.
"
Gibbet
took
the
whip-cord
which
his
father
handed
to
him
.
"
That
's
right
.
Now
you
wo
n't
bounce
up
to
the
poor
devil
just
like
a
wild
elephant
:
remember
that
he
's
more
or
less
in
an
interesting
situation
—
as
the
ladies
say
.
You
'll
rather
glide
behind
him
,
and
insinuate
the
cord
between
his
arms
,
whispering
at
the
same
time
,
'
Beg
pardon
.
'
Mind
and
do
n't
forget
that
;
because
we
're
under
an
obligation
to
him
to
some
extent
,
as
he
's
the
means
of
putting
money
in
our
pocket
,
and
we
get
the
reversion
of
his
clothes
.
"
Here
Gibbet
cast
a
hasty
but
terrified
glance
towards
his
father
's
attire
.
"
Ah
!
I
know
what
you
're
looking
at
,
youngster
,
"
said
Smithers
,
with
a
coarse
laugh
;
"
you
want
to
see
if
I
've
got
on
my
usual
toggery
?
To
be
sure
I
have
.
I
wear
it
as
a
compliment
to
the
gentleman
that
we
're
to
operate
on
this
morning
.
This
coat
was
the
one
that
Pegsworth
cut
his
last
fling
in
:
this
waistcoat
was
Greenacre
's
;
and
these
breeches
was
William
Lees
's
.
But
go
on
—
we
must
n't
waste
time
in
this
way
.
"
Gibbet
approached
the
puppet
,
and
endeavoured
to
manipulate
the
string
as
his
father
instructed
him
;
but
his
hand
trembled
so
convulsively
that
he
could
not
even
pass
it
between
the
arms
of
the
figure
.
While
he
was
still
fumbling
with
the
cord
,
and
vainly
endeavouring
to
master
his
emotions
,
the
leathern
thong
descended
with
tremendous
violence
upon
his
back
.
An
appalling
cry
burst
from
the
poor
lad
;
but
the
executioner
only
showered
down
curses
on
his
head
.
At
length
Gibbet
contrived
,
through
fear
of
another
blow
,
to
pinion
the
figure
in
a
manner
satisfactory
to
his
brutal
parent
.
"
There
!
"
exclaimed
Smithers
;
"
I
shall
make
something
of
you
at
last
.
What
virtue
there
must
be
in
an
old
bit
of
leather
:
it
seems
to
put
the
right
spirit
into
you
,
at
all
events
.
Well
,
that
's
all
you
shall
do
this
morning
down
at
Newgate
;
and
mind
and
do
it
as
if
the
thong
was
hanging
over
your
head
—
or
it
will
be
all
the
worse
for
you
when
we
get
home
.
Try
and
keep
up
the
credit
of
your
father
's
name
,
and
show
the
Sheriffs
and
the
Chaplain
how
you
can
truss
their
pigeon
for
them
.
They
always
take
great
notice
—
they
do
.
Last
time
there
was
an
execution
,
the
Chaplain
says
to
me
,
says
he
,
'
Smithers
,
I
do
n't
think
you
had
your
hand
nicely
in
this
morning
?
'
—
'
Do
n't
you
,
sir
?
'
says
I
.
—
'
No
,
'
says
he
;
'
I
've
seen
you
do
it
more
genteel
than
that
.
'
—
'
Well
,
sir
,
'
says
I
,
'
I
'll
do
my
best
to
please
you
next
time
.
'
—
'
Ah
!
do
,
there
's
a
good
fellow
,
Smithers
,
'
says
the
Chaplain
;
and
off
he
goes
to
breakfast
with
the
Sheriffs
and
governor
,
a-smacking
his
lips
at
the
idea
of
the
cold
fowl
and
ham
that
he
meant
to
pitch
into
.
But
I
only
mention
that
anecdote
,
to
show
you
how
close
the
authorities
take
notice
—
that
's
all
.
So
mind
and
do
your
best
,
boy
.
"
"
Yes
,
father
,
"
returned
Gibbet
.
"
So
now
we
've
done
the
pinioning
,
"
continued
Smithers
,
once
more
busying
himself
with
the
puppet
,
which
he
surveyed
with
an
admiration
almost
amounting
to
a
kind
of
love
.
"
Well
,
we
can
suppose
that
our
chap
has
marched
from
the
cell
,
and
has
just
got
on
the
scaffold
.
So
far
,
so
good
.
We
ca
n't
do
better
than
polish
him
off
decently
now
that
he
is
here
,
"
proceeded
Smithers
,
alluding
to
the
figure
,
and
rather
musing
aloud
than
addressing
himself
to
his
son
.
"
Now
all
we
've
got
to
do
is
to
imagine
that
the
bell
's
a-ringing
:
—
there
stands
the
parson
,
reading
the
funeral
service
.
Here
I
am
.
I
take
the
halter
that
's
already
tied
nicely
round
the
poor
devil
's
neck
—
I
fix
the
loop
on
this
hook
that
hangs
down
from
the
beam
of
the
gibbet
—
then
I
leave
the
scaffold
—
I
go
underneath
—
I
pull
the
bolt
—
and
down
he
falls
so
!
"
"
O
God
!
"
cried
Gibbet
,
literally
writhing
with
mental
agony
,
as
the
drop
fell
with
a
crashing
sound
,
and
the
jerking
noise
of
the
halter
met
his
ear
a
moment
afterwards
.
"
Now
,
then
,
coward
!
"
exclaimed
the
executioner
;
and
again
the
leathern
thong
elicited
horrible
screams
from
the
hump-back
.
The
lad
was
still
crying
,
and
his
father
was
in
the
midst
of
sundry
fearful
anathemas
,
levelled
against
what
he
called
his
son
's
cowardice
,
when
a
knock
was
heard
at
the
door
of
the
loft
.
"
Come
in
!
"
shouted
the
executioner
.
The
invitation
was
obeyed
;
and
an
elderly
man
,
dressed
in
a
shabby
suit
of
black
,
entered
the
room
with
an
affected
solemnity
of
gait
.
CHAPTER
CXLIII
.
MORBID
FEELINGS
.
—
KATHERINE
.
"
Holloa
,
Banks
!
"
exclaimed
the
executioner
.
"
Got
scent
of
the
morning
's
work
—
eh
,
old
feller
?
"
"
Alas
!
my
dear
Mr.
Smithers
,
"
returned
the
undertaker
,
shaking
his
head
in
a
lachrymose
manner
,
"
if
men
will
perpetrate
such
enormities
,
they
must
expect
to
go
to
their
last
home
by
means
of
a
dance
upon
nothing
.
"
And
,
according
to
a
custom
which
years
had
rendered
a
part
of
Mr.
Banks
's
nature
,
he
wiped
his
eyes
with
a
dingy
white
pocket-handkerchief
.
"
There
he
is
again
,
the
old
fool
!
"
ejaculated
Smithers
,
with
a
coarse
guffaw
;
"
always
a-whimpering
!
Why
,
you
do
n't
mean
to
say
,
Banks
,
that
you
care
two
straws
about
the
feller
that
's
going
to
be
tucked
up
this
morning
?
"
"
Ah
!
Smithers
,
you
do
n't
know
my
heart
:
I
weeps
for
frail
human
natur
'
,
and
not
only
for
the
unhappy
being
that
's
so
soon
to
be
a
blessed
defunct
carkiss
.
But
,
Smithers
—
my
boy
—
—
"
"
Well
?
"
cried
the
executioner
.
"
How
much
is
it
to
be
this
time
for
the
rope
?
"
asked
Mr.
Banks
,
in
a
tremulous
tone
and
with
another
solemn
shake
of
the
head
.
"
Five
shillings
—
not
a
mag
under
,
"
was
the
prompt
reply
.
"
That
's
too
much
,
Mr.
Smithers
—
too
much
,
"
observed
the
undertaker
of
Globe
Lane
.
"
The
last
one
I
bought
I
lost
by
:
times
is
changed
,
Mr.
Smithers
—
sadly
changed
.
"
"
Ai
n't
the
morbid
feelings
,
as
the
press
calls
'
em
,
as
powerful
as
ever
?
"
demanded
the
executioner
savagely
.
"
The
morbid
feelings
,
thank
God
,
is
right
as
a
trivet
,
"
answered
Banks
;
"
but
it
's
the
blunt
that
falls
off
,
Smithers
—
the
blunt
!
And
what
's
the
use
of
the
morbid
feelings
if
there
's
no
blunt
to
gratify
'
em
?
"
"
Do
you
mean
to
tell
me
,
Mr.
Banks
,
"
cried
the
executioner
,
"
that
you
ca
n't
get
as
ready
a
sale
for
the
halters
as
you
used
to
do
?
"
"
I
'm
afraid
that
such
is
the
actiwal
case
,
my
dear
friend
,
