boardto
take
leave
of
the
girls
with
whom
they
are
acquainted
.
These
hags
,
dressed
out
in
their
gayest
garb
,
and
pretending
to
be
overwhelmed
with
grief
(
while
they
really
are
with
gin
)
,
represent
themselves
to
be
the
mothers
or
aunts
of
the
'
poor
dear
creatures
'
who
have
got
into
trouble
,
and
assure
the
surgeon
that
their
so-called
daughters
or
nieces
were
most
excellent
girls
and
bore
exemplary
characters
previous
to
their
present
'
misfortune
.
'
The
surgeon
—
if
a
novice
,
or
a
humane
man
—
believes
the
tale
,
and
is
sure
to
treat
with
kindness
the
'
poor
creatures
'
thus
recommended
to
him
.
About
twenty
years
ago
a
Religious
Society
in
London
sent
out
,
in
an
emigrant
ship
,
twelve
'
reclaimed
unfortunate
girls
,
'
with
the
hope
that
they
might
form
good
matrimonial
connexions
among
the
free
settlers
in
the
colony
;
there
always
having
been
—
especially
at
first
—
a
great
dearth
of
European
females
in
Australia
.
These
girls
were
called
the
Twelve
Apostles
;
and
all
England
rang
with
the
good
work
which
had
been
accomplished
by
the
Religious
Society
.
But
on
the
arrival
of
the
Twelve
Apostles
at
Sydney
,
seven
of
them
were
found
to
be
in
the
family
way
by
the
sailors
;
and
the
others
immediately
entered
on
a
course
of
unbounded
licentiousness
.
[
22
]
"
A
few
days
before
the
female
convict-vessel
arrives
at
Sydney
,
the
women
—
old
and
young
—
busy
themselves
in
getting
ready
their
finery
for
landing
.
The
debarkation
of
female
convicts
always
takes
place
with
great
effect
.
The
prostitutes
appear
in
their
most
flaunting
attire
;
and
many
of
them
have
gold
ornaments
about
them
.
They
are
then
sent
to
the
Paramatta
Factory
.
This
establishment
cannot
be
looked
on
as
a
place
of
punishment
—
nor
as
a
place
of
reformation
.
The
inmates
are
well
fed
,
and
are
put
to
no
labour
.
There
is
an
extensive
garden
,
in
which
they
can
walk
at
pleasure
.
Some
of
them
are
allotted
to
free
settlers
requiring
servants
;
but
the
grand
hope
of
the
female
convict
is
to
marry
.
This
prospect
is
materially
aided
by
the
fact
that
both
free
settlers
and
ticket-of-leave
convicts
are
allowed
to
seek
for
help-mates
in
the
Factory
.
When
they
call
for
that
purpose
,
the
fair
penitents
are
drawn
up
in
a
row
;
and
the
wife-seeking
individual
inspects
them
as
a
general
does
his
army
,
or
a
butcher
the
sheep
in
Smithfield
Market
.
If
he
fancies
one
of
the
candidates
,
he
beckons
her
from
the
rank
,
and
they
retire
to
a
distance
to
converse
.
Should
a
matrimonial
arrangement
be
made
,
the
business
is
soon
finished
by
the
aid
of
a
clergyman
;
but
if
no
amicable
understanding
is
come
to
,
the
nymph
returns
to
the
rank
,
and
the
swain
chooses
another
—
and
so
on
,
until
the
object
of
his
visit
is
accomplished
.
So
anxious
are
the
unmarried
free
settlers
or
the
ticket-of-leave
convicts
to
change
their
single
state
of
blessedness
,
and
so
ready
are
the
fair
sex
to
meet
their
wishes
,
that
few
women
whose
husbands
die
remain
widows
a
couple
of
days
;
some
not
more
than
four-and-twenty
hours
.
A
few
years
before
I
was
in
the
colony
,
an
old
settler
saw
a
convict-girl
performing
penance
on
a
market-day
,
with
her
gown-tail
drawn
over
her
head
,
for
drunkenness
and
disorderly
conduct
in
the
Factory
.
He
walked
straight
up
to
her
—
regardless
of
the
hootings
of
the
crowd
—
and
proposed
marriage
.
She
was
candid
enough
to
confess
to
him
that
she
was
five
months
gone
in
the
family
way
by
a
master
to
whom
she
had
been
allotted
ere
she
returned
to
the
Factory
;
but
the
amorous
swain
,
who
was
nearly
sixty
,
was
so
much
struck
by
her
black
eyes
and
plump
shape
,
that
he
expressed
his
readiness
to
take
her
'
for
better
or
worse
;
'
and
she
had
not
left
the
place
of
punishment
an
hour
,
ere
she
was
married
to
one
of
the
richest
settlers
in
the
colony
.
[
23
]
"
I
will
tell
you
one
more
anecdote
relative
to
Australian
marriages
.
A
very
handsome
woman
was
transported
for
shop-lifting
—
her
third
offence
of
the
kind
.
She
left
a
husband
behind
her
in
England
.
On
her
arrival
at
Sydney
she
was
allotted
to
an
elderly
gentleman
,
a
free
settler
,
and
who
,
being
a
bachelor
,
sought
to
make
her
his
mistress
.
She
,
however
,
resisted
his
overtures
,
hoping
that
he
would
make
her
his
wife
,
as
he
was
not
aware
that
she
had
a
husband
in
her
native
country
.
Time
wore
on
,
he
urgent
—
she
obstinate
,
—
he
declining
matrimonial
bonds
.
At
length
she
received
a
black-edged
letter
from
her
mother
in
England
;
and
upon
being
questioned
by
her
master
,
she
stated
'
that
its
contents
made
a
great
alteration
in
her
circumstances
.
'
More
she
would
not
tell
him
.
He
was
afraid
of
losing
his
handsome
servant
;
and
agreed
to
marry
her
.
They
were
united
accordingly
.
When
the
nuptial
knot
was
indissolubly
tied
,
he
begged
his
beloved
wife
to
explain
the
nature
of
the
black-edged
letter
.
'
There
is
now
no
need
for
any
further
mystery
,
'
she
said
,
'
The
truth
is
,
I
could
not
marry
you
before
,
because
I
had
a
husband
living
in
England
.
That
black-edged
letter
conveyed
to
me
the
welcome
news
that
he
was
hanged
five
months
ago
at
the
Old
Bailey
;
and
thus
nothing
now
stands
in
the
way
of
our
happiness
.
'
—
And
that
woman
made
the
rich
settler
a
most
exemplary
wife
.
"
I
have
now
given
you
an
insight
into
the
morals
of
the
female
,
as
well
as
those
of
the
male
convicts
;
and
you
may
also
perceive
that
while
transportation
is
actually
a
means
of
pleasing
variety
of
scene
and
habits
to
the
woman
,
it
is
an
earthly
hell
to
the
man
.
I
know
that
transportation
is
spoken
of
as
something
very
light
—
a
mere
change
of
climate
—
amongst
those
thieves
in
England
who
have
never
yet
crossed
the
water
;
but
they
are
woefully
mistaken
!
Transportation
was
once
a
trivial
punishment
,
when
all
convicts
were
allotted
to
settlers
,
and
money
would
purchase
tickets-of-leave
;
or
when
a
convict
's
wife
,
if
he
had
one
,
might
go
out
in
the
next
ship
with
all
the
swag
which
his
crimes
had
produced
,
and
on
her
arrival
in
the
colony
apply
for
her
husband
to
be
allotted
to
her
as
her
servant
,
by
which
step
he
became
a
free
man
,
opened
a
public-house
or
some
kind
of
shop
,
and
made
a
fortune
.
Those
were
glorious
times
for
convicts
;
but
all
that
system
has
been
changed
.
Now
you
have
Road-Gangs
,
and
Hulk-Gangs
,
and
Quarrying-Gangs
,
—
men
who
work
in
chains
,
and
who
cannot
obtain
a
sufficiency
of
food
!
There
is
also
Norfolk
Island
—
a
Garden
of
Eden
in
natural
loveliness
,
rendered
an
earthly
hell
by
human
occupation
.
Oh
!
let
not
the
opinion
prevail
that
transportation
is
no
punishment
;
let
not
those
who
are
young
in
the
ways
of
iniquity
,
pursue
their
career
under
the
impression
that
exile
to
Australia
is
nothing
more
than
a
pleasant
change
of
scene
!
They
will
too
soon
discover
how
miserably
they
are
mistaken
;
and
when
they
feel
the
galling
chain
upon
their
ankles
,
—
when
they
find
themselves
toiling
amidst
the
incessant
damps
of
Macquarie
,
or
on
the
hard
roads
of
Van
Diemen
's
Land
,
or
in
the
quarries
of
Norfolk
Island
,
—
when
they
are
labouring
in
forests
where
every
step
may
arouse
a
venomous
snake
whose
bite
is
death
,
or
where
a
falling
tree
may
crush
them
beneath
its
weight
,
—
when
they
are
exposed
to
the
brutality
of
overseers
,
or
the
still
more
intolerable
cruelty
of
their
companions
,
—
when
they
sleep
in
constant
dread
of
being
murdered
by
their
fellow-convicts
,
and
awake
only
to
the
dull
monotony
of
a
life
of
intense
and
heart-breaking
labour
,
—
then
will
they
loathe
their
very
existence
,
and
dare
all
the
perils
of
starvation
,
or
the
horrors
of
cannibalism
,
in
order
to
escape
from
those
scenes
of
ineffable
misery
!
"
But
I
need
say
no
more
upon
this
subject
.
The
bark
,
in
which
I
worked
my
passage
to
Europe
,
reached
England
in
safety
;
and
I
was
once
more
at
large
in
my
native
country
.
Yes
—
I
was
free
to
go
whithersoever
I
would
—
and
to
avenge
myself
on
him
who
had
betrayed
me
to
justice
!
The
hope
of
some
day
consummating
that
vengeance
had
never
deserted
me
from
the
moment
I
was
sentenced
in
the
Central
Criminal
Court
.
It
had
animated
me
throughout
all
the
miseries
,
the
toils
,
and
the
hardships
which
I
have
related
to
you
.
It
inspired
me
with
courage
to
dare
the
dangers
of
an
escape
from
Macquarie
:
its
effect
was
the
same
when
I
resolved
upon
quitting
Norfolk
Island
.
I
have
once
had
my
mortal
foe
within
my
reach
;
but
my
hand
dealt
not
the
blow
with
sufficient
force
.
It
will
not
fail
next
time
.
I
know
that
vengeance
is
a
crime
;
but
I
cannot
subdue
those
feelings
which
prompt
me
to
punish
the
man
whose
perfidy
sent
me
into
exile
.
In
all
other
respects
I
am
reformed
—
completely
reformed
.
Not
that
the
authorities
in
Australia
or
Norfolk
Island
have
in
any
way
contributed
to
this
moral
change
which
has
come
over
me
:
no
—
my
own
meditations
and
reflections
have
induced
me
to
toil
in
order
to
earn
an
honest
livelihood
.
I
will
never
steal
again
:
I
will
die
sooner
.
I
would
also
rather
die
by
my
own
hand
than
return
to
the
horrors
of
Macquarie
or
Norfolk
Island
.
But
my
vengeance
—
Oh
!
I
must
gratify
my
vengeance
;
—
and
I
care
not
what
may
become
of
me
afterwards
!
"
Crankey
Jem
then
related
so
much
of
his
adventures
with
the
gipsies
as
did
not
involve
a
betrayal
of
any
of
their
secrets
,
and
concluded
his
recital
by
a
concise
account
of
his
sudden
meeting
with
,
and
attack
upon
,
the
Resurrection
Man
at
a
certain
house
in
St.
Giles
's
.
CHAPTER
CXCII
.
THE
MINT
.
—
THE
FORTY
THIEVES
.
Reader
,
if
you
stroll
down
that
portion
of
the
Southwark
Bridge
Road
which
lies
between
Union
Street
and
Great
Suffolk
Street
,
you
will
perceive
,
midway
,
and
on
your
left
hand
,
a
large
mound
of
earth
heaped
on
an
open
space
doubtless
,
intended
for
building-ground
.
At
the
southern
extremity
of
this
mound
(
on
which
all
the
offal
from
the
adjacent
houses
is
thrown
,
and
where
vagabond
boys
are
constantly
collected
)
is
the
entrance
into
an
assemblage
of
miserable
streets
,
alleys
,
and
courts
,
forming
one
of
the
vilest
,
most
dangerous
,
and
most
demoralised
districts
of
this
huge
metropolis
.
The
houses
are
old
,
gloomy
,
and
sombre
.
Some
of
them
have
the
upper
part
,
beginning
with
the
first
floor
,
projecting
at
least
three
feet
over
the
thoroughfares
—
for
we
cannot
say
over
the
pavement
.
Most
of
the
doors
stand
open
,
and
reveal
low
,
dark
,
and
filthy
passages
,
the
mere
aspect
of
which
compels
the
passer-by
to
get
into
the
middle
of
the
way
,
for
fear
of
being
suddenly
dragged
into
those
sinister
dens
,
which
seem
fitted
for
crimes
of
the
blackest
dye
.
This
is
no
exaggeration
.
Even
in
the
day-time
one
shudders
at
the
cut-throat
appearance
of
the
places
into
the
full
depths
of
whose
gloom
the
eye
cannot
entirely
penetrate
.
But
,
by
night
,
the
Mint
,
—
for
it
is
of
this
district
that
we
are
now
writing
,
—
is
far
more
calculated
to
inspire
the
boldest
heart
with
alarm
,
than
the
thickest
forest
or
the
wildest
heath
ever
infested
by
banditti
.
The
houses
in
the
Mint
give
one
an
idea
of
those
dens
in
which
murder
may
be
committed
without
the
least
chance
of
detection
.
And
yet
that
district
swarms
with
population
.
But
of
what
kind
are
its
inhabitants
?
The
refuse
and
the
most
criminal
of
the
metropolis
.
There
people
follow
trades
as
a
blind
to
avert
suspicions
relative
to
their
real
calling
:
for
they
are
actually
housebreakers
or
thieves
themselves
,
or
else
the
companions
and
abettors
of
such
villains
.
In
passing
through
the
mazes
of
the
Mint
—
especially
in
Mint
Street
itself
—
you
will
observe
more
ill-looking
fellows
and
revolting
women
in
five
minutes
than
you
will
see
either
on
Saffron
Hill
or
in
Bethnal
Green
in
an
hour
.
Take
the
entire
district
that
is
bounded
on
the
north
by
Peter
Street
,
on
the
south
by
Great
Suffolk
Street
,
on
the
east
by
Blackman
Street
and
High
Street
,
and
on
the
west
by
the
Southwark
Bridge
Road
,
—
take
this
small
section
of
the
metropolis
,
and
believe
us
when
we
state
that
within
those
limits
there
is
concentrated
more
depravity
in
all
its
myriad
phases
,
than
many
persons
could
suppose
to
exist
in
the
entire
kingdom
.
The
Mint
was
once
a
sanctuary
,
like
Whitefriars
;
and
,
although
the
law
has
deprived
it
of
its
ancient
privileges
,
its
inhabitants
still
maintain
them
,
by
a
tacit
understanding
with
each
other
,
to
the
extent
of
their
power
.
Thus
,
if
a
villain
,
of
whom
the
officers
of
justice
are
in
search
,
takes
refuge
at
a
lodging
in
the
Mint
,
the
landlord
will
keep
his
secret
in
spite
of
every
inducement
.
The
only
danger
which
he
might
incur
would
be
at
the
hands
of
the
lowest
description
of
buzgloaks
,
dummy-hunters
,
area-sneaks
,
and
vampers
who
dwell
in
that
district
.
There
is
no
part
of
Paris
that
can
compare
with
the
Mint
in
squalor
,
filth
,
or
moral
depravity
;
—
no
—
not
even
the
street
in
the
Island
of
the
City
,
where
Eugene
Sue
has
placed
his
celebrated
tapis-franc
.
Let
those
who
happen
to
visit
the
Mint
,
after
reading
this
description
thereof
,
mark
well
the
countenances
of
the
inhabitants
whom
they
will
meet
in
that
gloomy
labyrinth
.
Hardened
ruffianism
characterises
the
men
;
—
insolent
,
leering
,
and
shameless
looks
express
the
depravity
of
the
women
;
—
the
boys
have
the
sneaking
,
shuffling
manner
of
juvenile
thieves
;
—
the
girls
,
even
of
a
tender
age
,
possess
the
brazen
air
of
incipient
profligacy
.
It
was
about
nine
o'clock
in
the
evening
when
the
Resurrection
Man
,
wrapped
in
a
thick
and
capacious
pea-coat
,
the
collar
of
which
concealed
all
the
lower
part
of
his
countenance
,
turned
hastily
from
the
Southwark
Bridge
Road
into
Mint
Street
.
The
weather
was
piercingly
cold
,
and
the
sleet
was
peppering
down
with
painful
violence
:
the
Resurrection
Man
accordingly
buried
his
face
as
much
as
possible
in
the
collar
of
his
coat
,
and
neither
looked
to
the
right
nor
left
as
he
proceeded
on
his
way
.
To
this
circumstance
may
be
attributed
the
fact
that
one
so
cautious
and
wary
as
he
,
should
now
fail
to
observe
that
his
motions
were
watched
and
his
steps
dogged
by
a
lad
whose
countenance
was
also
well
concealed
by
a
high
collar
which
was
drawn
up
to
his
ears
.
In
order
to
avoid
unnecessary
mystification
,
we
may
as
well
observe
that
this
youth
was
Henry
Holford
.
The
Resurrection
Man
pursued
his
way
along
Mint
Street
,
and
suddenly
turned
into
a
small
court
on
the
left-hand
side
.
There
he
knocked
at
a
door
in
a
peculiar
manner
,
whistling
a
single
sharp
shrill
note
at
the
same
time
;
and
in
another
moment
Holford
saw
him
enter
the
house
.
"
Well
,
Mr.
Tidkins
,
"
said
a
boy
of
about
fourteen
,
who
had
opened
the
door
to
admit
the
formidable
individual
with
whom
he
was
evidently
well
acquainted
:
"
a
preshus
cold
night
,
ar
n't
it
?
"
"
Very
,
my
lad
,
"
answered
the
Resurrection
Man
,
turning
down
his
collar
,
so
that
the
light
of
the
candle
which
the
boy
held
,
gleamed
upon
his
cadaverous
countenance
.
"
Is
the
Bully
Grand
at
home
?
"
A
reply
in
the
affirmative
was
given
;
and
the
boy
led
the
way
,
up
a
narrow
and
dilapidated
staircase
,
to
a
large
room
where
a
great
number
of
youths
,
whose
ages
varied
from
twelve
to
eighteen
,
were
seated
at
a
table
,
drinking
and
smoking
.
The
organisation
of
this
society
of
juvenile
reprobates
requires
a
detailed
notice
.
The
association
consisted
of
thirty-nine
co-equals
and
one
chief
who
was
denominated
the
Bully
Grand
.
The
fraternity
was
called
The
Forty
Thieves
;
—
whether
in
consequence
of
the
founders
having
accidentally
amounted
to
precisely
that
number
,
or
whether
with
the
idea
of
emulating
the
celebrated
heroes
of
the
Arabian
tale
,
we
cannot
determine
.
The
society
had
,
however
,
been
established
for
upwards
of
thirty
years
at
the
time
of
which
we
are
writing
,
—
and
is
in
existence
at
this
present
moment
.
The
rules
of
the
association
may
thus
be
briefly
summed
up
:
—
The
society
consists
of
Forty
Members
,
including
the
Bully
Grand
.
Candidates
for
admission
are
eligible
at
twelve
years
of
age
.
When
a
member
reaches
the
age
of
eighteen
,
he
must
retire
from
the
association
.
This
rule
does
not
,
however
,
apply
to
the
Bully
Grand
,
who
is
not
eligible
for
that
situation
until
he
has
actually
reached
the
age
of
eighteen
,
and
has
been
a
member
for
at
least
four
years
.
Each
candidate
for
membership
must
be
guaranteed
as
to
eligibility
and
honour
(
that
honour
which
is
necessary
amongst
thieves
)
by
three
members
of
good
standing
in
the
society
;
and
should
any
member
misconduct
himself
,
or
withhold
a
portion
of
any
booty
which
he
may
acquire
,
his
guarantees
are
responsible
for
him
.
The
Bully
Grand
must
find
twelve
guarantees
amongst
the
oldest
members
.
His
power
is
in
most
respects
absolute
;
and
the
greatest
deference
is
paid
to
him
.
The
modes
of
proceeding
are
as
follow
:
—
The
metropolis
is
divided
into
twelve
districts
distinguished
thus
:
—
1.
The
Regent
's
Park
;
2.
Pentonville
;
3.
Hoxton
;
4.
Finsbury
;
5.
City
;
6.
Tower
Hamlets
;
7.
Westminster
;
8.
Pimlico
;
9.
Hyde
Park
;
10.
Grosvenor
Square
;
11.
Lambeth
;
12.
The
Borough
.
Three
members
are
allotted
to
each
district
,
and
are
changed
in
due
rotation
every
day
.
Thus
the
three
who
take
the
Regent
's
Park
district
on
a
Monday
,
pass
to
the
Pentonville
district
on
Tuesday
,
the
Hoxton
district
on
Wednesday
,
and
so
on
.
Thus
thirty-six
members
are
every
day
employed
in
the
district-service
.
The
Bully
Grand
and
the
three
others
in
the
meantime
attend
to
the
disposal
of
the
stolen
property
,
and
to
the
various
business
of
the
fraternity
.
In
every
district
there
is
a
public-house
,
or
boozing-ken
,
in
the
interest
of
the
association
;
and
to
the
landlords
of
these
flash
cribs
is
the
produce
of
each
day
's
work
consigned
in
the
evening
.
The
house
in
the
Mint
is
merely
a
place
of
meeting
once
a
fortnight
,
a
residence
for
the
Bully
Grand
,
and
the
central
depôt
to
which
articles
are
conveyed
from
the
care
of
the
district
boozing-kens
.
The
minor
regulations
and
bye-laws
may
be
thus
summed
up
:
—
Of
the
three
members
allotted
to
each
district
,
the
oldest
member
acts
as
the
chief
,
and
guides
the
plan
of
proceedings
according
to
his
discretion
.
Should
any
member
be
proved
to
have
secreted
booty
,
his
guarantees
must
pay
the
value
of
it
;
and
with
them
rests
the
punishment
of
the
defaulter
.
General
meetings
take
place
at
the
head-quarters
in
the
Mint
on
the
first
and
third
Wednesday
in
every
month
;
but
if
the
Bully
Grand
wishes
to
call
an
extraordinary
assembly
,
or
to
summon
any
particular
member
or
members
to
his
presence
,
he
must
leave
notices
to
that
effect
with
the
landlords
of
the
district
houses-of-call
.
The
members
are
to
effect
no
robberies
by
violence
,
nor
to
break
into
houses
:
their
proceedings
must
be
effected
by
sleight
of
hand
,
cunning
,
and
artifice
.
All
disputes
must
be
referred
to
the
Bully
Grand
for
settlement
.
The
booty
must
be
converted
into
money
,
and
the
cash
divided
fairly
between
all
the
members
every
fortnight
,
a
certain
percentage
being
allotted
by
way
of
salary
to
the
Bully
Grand
.
Such
are
the
principles
upon
which
the
association
of
the
Forty
Thieves
is
based
.
Every
precaution
is
adopted
,
by
means
of
the
guarantees
,
to
prevent
the
admission
of
unsuitable
members
,
and
to
ensure
the
fidelity
and
honour
of
those
who
belong
to
the
fraternity
.
When
a
member
"
gets
into
trouble
,
"
persons
of
apparent
respectability
come
forward
to
give
the
lad
a
character
;
so
that
magistrates
or
judges
are
quite
bewildered
by
the
assurances
that
"
it
must
be
a
mistake
;
"
"
that
the
prisoner
is
an
honest
hard-working
boy
,
belonging
to
poor
but
respectable
parents
in
the
country
;
"
or
"
that
so
convinced
is
the
witness
of
the
lad
's
innocence
,
that
he
will
instantly
take
him
into
his
service
if
the
magistrate
will
discharge
him
.
"
While
a
member
remains
in
prison
previous
to
trial
,
the
funds
of
the
association
provide
him
with
the
best
food
allowed
to
enter
the
gaol
;
and
,
if
he
be
condemned
to
a
term
of
incarceration
in
the
House
of
Correction
,
he
looks
forward
to
the
banquet
that
will
be
given
in
the
Mint
to
celebrate
the
day
of
his
release
.
Moreover
,
a
member
does
not
lose
his
right
to
a
share
of
the
funds
realised
during
his
imprisonment
.
Thus
every
inducement
is
adopted
to
prevent
members
who
"
get
into
trouble
"
from
peaching
against
their
comrades
,
or
making
any
revelations
calculated
to
compromise
the
safety
of
the
society
.
It
was
a
fortnightly
meeting
of
the
society
when
the
Resurrection
Man
visited
the
house
in
the
Mint
,
on
the
occasion
of
which
we
were
ere
now
speaking
.
The
Forty
Thieves
were
all
gathered
round
a
board
formed
of
several
rude
deal
tables
placed
together
,
and
literally
groaning
beneath
the
weight
of
pewter-pots
,
bottles
,
jugs
,
etc.
The
tallow-candles
burnt
like
stars
seen
through
a
mist
,
so
dense
was
the
tobacco-smoke
in
the
apartment
.
At
the
upper
end
of
the
table
sate
the
Bully
Grand
—
a
tall
,
well-dressed
,
good-looking
young
man
,
with
a
profusion
of
hair
,
but
no
whiskers
,
and
little
of
that
blueish
appearance
on
the
chin
which
denotes
a
beard
.
His
aspect
was
therefore
even
more
juvenile
than
was
consistent
with
his
age
,
which
was
about
twenty-five
.
He
possessed
a
splendid
set
of
teeth
,
of
which
he
seemed
very
proud
;
and
his
delicate
white
hand
,
which
had
never
been
applied
to
any
harder
work
than
picking
pockets
,
was
waved
gently
backward
and
forward
when
he
spoke
.
Around
the
table
there
were
fine
materials
for
the
study
of
a
phrenologist
.
Such
a
concatenation
of
varied
physiognomies
was
not
often
to
be
met
with
;
because
none
of
the
charities
nor
amenities
of
life
were
there
delineated
;
—
those
countenances
were
indices
only
of
vice
in
all
its
grades
and
phases
.
The
Resurrection
Man
was
welcomed
with
a
hum
of
applause
on
the
part
of
the
members
,
and
with
out-stretched
hands
by
the
Bully
Grand
near
whom
he
was
invited
to
take
a
seat
.
"
The
business
of
the
evening
is
over
,
Mr.
Tidkins
,
"
said
Mr.
Tunks
,
—
for
so
the
Bully
Grand
was
named
;
"
and
we
are
now
deep
in
the
pleasures
of
the
meeting
,
as
you
see
.
Help
yourself
!
There
are
spirits
of
all
kinds
,
and
pipes
or
cigars
—
whichever
you
prefer
.
"
"
Have
you
any
information
to
give
me
?
"
inquired
Tidkins
in
a
low
tone
.
"
Plenty
—
but
not
at
this
moment
,
Mr.
Tidkins
.
Take
a
glass
of
something
to
dispel
the
cold
;
and
by-and-bye
we
will
talk
on
matters
of
business
.
There
is
plenty
of
time
;
and
many
of
my
young
friends
here
would
no
doubt
be
proud
to
give
you
a
specimen
of
their
vocal
powers
.
Let
me
see
—
who
's
turn
is
it
?
"
"
Leary
Lipkins
's
,
sir
,
"
whispered
a
boy
who
sate
near
the
Bully
Grand
.
"
Oh
!
Leary
Lipkins
—
is
it
?
"
said
Tunks
aloud
.
"
Now
,
brother
Lipkins
,
the
company
are
waiting
for
an
opportunity
to
drink
to
your
health
and
song
.
"
Mr.
Lipkins
—
a
sharp-looking
,
hatchet-faced
,
restless-eyed
youth
of
about
sixteen
—
did
not
require
much
pressing
ere
he
favoured
his
audience
with
the
following
sample
of
vocal
melody
:
—
THE
SIGN
OF
THE
FIDDLE
.
There
's
not
in
all
London
a
tavern
so
gay
,
As
that
where
the
knowing
ones
meet
of
a
day
:
So
long
as
a
farthing
remains
to
my
share
,
I
'll
drink
at
that
tavern
,
and
never
elsewhere
.
Yet
it
is
not
that
comforts
there
only
combine
,
Nor
because
it
dispenses
good
brandy
and
wine
;
'
Tis
not
the
sweet
odour
of
pipe
nor
cigar
—
Oh
!
no
—
'
tis
a
something
more
cozie
by
far
!
'
Tis
that
friends
of
the
light-fingered
craft
are
all
nigh
,
Who
'd
drink
till
the
cellar
itself
should
be
dry
,
And
teach
you
to
feel
how
existence
may
please
,
When
pass
'd
in
the
presence
of
cronies
like
these
.
Sweet
Sign
of
the
Fiddle
!
how
long
could
I
dwell
In
thy
tap
full
of
smoke
,
with
the
friends
I
love
well
;
When
bailiffs
no
longer
the
alleys
infest
,
And
duns
,
like
their
bills
,
have
relapsed
into
rest
.
"
Bravo
!
"
"
Brayvo
!
"
"
Bra-ah-vo
!
"
echoed
on
all
sides
,
when
this
elegant
effusion
was
brought
to
a
close
.
The
Bully
Grand
then
rose
,
and
spoke
in
the
following
manner
:
—
"
Gentlemen
,
in
proposing
the
health
of
our
excellent
brother
Leary
Lipkins
,
I
might
spare
eulogy
,
his
merits
being
so
well
known
to
us
all
.
But
I
feel
that
there
are
times
when
it
is
necessary
to
expatiate
somewhat
on
the
excellent
qualities
of
the
leading
members
of
our
honourable
Society
—
in
order
to
encourage
an
emulative
feeling
in
the
breasts
of
our
younger
brethren
.
Such
an
occasion
is
the
present
one
,
when
we
are
all
thus
sociably
assembled
.
Gentlemen
,
you
all
know
Leary
Lipkins
!
(
Cheers
,
and
cries
of
"
We
do
!
we
do
!
"
)
You
all
know
that
he
is
indeed
leary
in
every
sense
of
the
word
.
(
Hear
!
hear
!
)
He
can
see
through
the
best
bit
of
broad
cloth
that
ever
covered
a
swell
's
pocket
.
There
seems
to
be
a
sort
of
magnetic
attraction
between
his
fingers
and
a
gold
watch
in
the
fob
of
a
Bond
Street
lounger
.
(
Cheers
.
)
Talk
of
mesmerism
!
why
—
Leary
Lipkins
can
send
a
gentleman
into
a
complete
state
of
coma
as
he
walks
along
the
streets
,
so
that
he
never
can
possibly
feel
Leary
's
hands
in
his
pockets
.
Gentlemen
,
I
hold
Leary
Lipkins
up
to
you
as
an
excellent
example
;
and
beg
to
propose
his
very
good
health
.
"
The
toast
was
drunk
with
"
three
times
three
.
"
Mr.
Lipkins
returned
thanks
in
what
a
newspaper-reporter
would
term
"
a
neat
speech
;
"
and
he
then
exercised
the
usual
privilege
of
calling
upon
a
particular
individual
for
a
song
.
A
certain
Master
Tripes
Todkinson
accordingly
indulged
his
companions
in
the
following
manner
:
—
THE
COMPASSIONATE
LADY
AND
THE
CHIMNEY-SWEEP
.
"
Pray
,
who
's
the
little
boy
that
is
dancing
so
nimbly
?
Come
,
Mary
,
bring
a
halfpenny
down
.
—
"
"
Please
,
ma'am
,
I
'm
the
feller
as
swept
your
chimbley
,
And
I
'm
very
much
obleeged
for
the
brown
.
—
"
"
Alas
!
how
his
schooling
has
been
neglected
!
But
perhaps
his
kind
father
's
dead
?
—
"
"
No
,
ma'am
;
he
's
a
tinker
as
is
wery
much
respected
And
this
mornin
'
he
's
drunk
in
bed
.
—
"
"
Perchance
'
tis
a
motherless
child
that
they
've
fixed
on
To
dance
.
Does
your
mamma
live
still
?
—
"
"
Yes
,
ma'am
;
at
this
moment
she
's
stayin
'
at
Brixton
,
Vith
a
gen'leman
as
keeps
a
mill
.
—
"
"
Poor
child
,
he
is
miserably
clad
!
How
shocking
!
Not
to
give
him
some
clothes
were
a
sin
!
—
"
"
Thank'ee
,
ma'am
;
but
I
does
n't
want
no
shoe
nor
stocking
,
I
'd
rayther
have
a
quartern
o
'
gin
!
"
The
Bully
Grand
proposed
the
health
Of
Master
Tripes
Todkinson
,
in
a
speech
which
was
mightily
applauded
;
and
Master
Tripes
Todkinson
,
having
duly
returned
thanks
,
called
on
Master
Bandy-legged
Diggs
to
continue
the
vocal
harmony
.
This
invitation
was
responded
to
with
as
much
readiness
as
Master
Diggs
would
have
displayed
in
easing
an
elderly
gentleman
in
a
crowd
of
his
purse
;
and
the
air
with
which
he
favoured
his
audience
ran
thus
:
—
THE
LAST
OATH
.
Upon
the
drop
he
turned
To
swear
a
parting
oath
;
He
cursed
the
parson
and
Jack
Ketch
,
And
he
coolly
damned
them
both
.
He
listened
to
the
hum
Of
the
crowds
that
gathered
nigh
;
And
he
carelessly
remarked
,
"
What
a
famous
man
am
I
!
"
Beside
the
scaffold
's
foot
His
mistress
piped
her
eye
:
She
waved
to
him
her
dirty
rag
,
And
whimpering
said
,
"
Good
bye
!
"
She
mourned
the
good
old
times
That
ne'er
could
come
again
,
When
he
brought
her
home
a
well-lined
purse
;
—
But
all
her
tears
were
vain
!
Poor
Jack
was
soon
turned
off
,
And
gallantly
was
hung
:
There
was
a
sigh
in
every
breast
,
A
groan
on
every
tongue
.
Go
—
gaze
upon
his
corse
,
And
remember
then
you
see
The
bravest
robber
that
has
been
,
Or
ever
more
shall
be
!
We
need
scarcely
observe
that
this
chant
was
received
with
as
much
favour
as
the
preceding
ones
.
The
Resurrection
Man
was
,
however
,
growing
impatient
;
for
the
reader
doubtless
comprehends
enough
of
his
character
to
be
well
aware
that
Tidkins
was
not
one
who
loved
pleasure
better
than
business
.
He
looked
at
his
watch
,
and
cast
a
significant
glance
towards
the
Bully
Grand
.
"
What
o'clock
is
it
,
Mr.
Tidkins
?
"
inquired
that
great
functionary
.
"
Half-past
ten
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
Well
,
I
will
devote
my
attention
to
you
in
a
few
minutes
,
"
said
Tunks
.
"
You
may
rest
perfectly
easy
—
I
have
obtained
information
on
every
point
in
which
you
are
interested
.
But
—
hark
!
Shuffling
Simon
is
going
to
speak
!
"
A
lad
of
about
seventeen
,
who
had
a
weakness
in
the
joints
of
his
knees
,
and
walked
in
a
fashion
which
had
led
to
the
nickname
mentioned
by
the
Bully
Grand
,
rose
from
his
seat
,
and
proposed
the
health
of
Mr.
Tunks
,
the
chief
of
the
society
of
the
Forty
Thieves
.
Then
followed
a
tremendous
clattering
of
bottles
and
glasses
as
the
company
filled
up
bumpers
in
order
to
pay
due
honour
to
the
toast
;
and
every
one
,
save
the
Grand
himself
,
rose
.
The
health
was
drunk
with
rounds
of
applause
:
a
pause
of
a
few
moments
ensued
;
and
then
Shuffling
Simon
commenced
the
following
complimentary
song
,
in
the
repetition
of
which
all
the
other
adherents
of
the
Chief
vociferously
joined
:
—
PROSPER
THE
GRAND
.
Prosper
our
Bully
Grand
,
Great
Tunks
,
our
noble
Grand
;
Prosper
the
Grand
Send
him
good
swag
enough
,
Heart
made
of
sterling
stuff
,
Long
to
be
up
to
snuff
;
—
Prosper
the
Grand
.
Save
him
from
all
mishaps
,
Scatter
blue-bottle
traps
Throughout
the
land
Confound
the
busy
beak
,
Flourish
the
area-sneak
;
In
Tunks
a
chief
we
seek
;
—
Prosper
the
Grand
!
The
best
lush
on
the
board
To
Tunks
's
health
be
poured
By
all
the
band
!
May
he
continue
free
,
Nor
ever
tread-mill
see
;
And
all
shall
shout
with
glee
,
Prosper
the
Grand
!
'
It
was
really
extremely
refreshing
for
the
Resurrection
Man
to
contemplate
the
deep
manifestation
of
loyalty
with
which
the
thirty-nine
thieves
sang
the
preceding
air
.
Nor
less
was
it
an
imposing
spectacle
when
the
object
of
that
adoration
rose
from
his
seat
,
waved
his
right
hand
,
and
poured
forth
his
gratitude
in
a
most
gracious
speech
.
This
ceremony
being
accomplished
,
the
Grand
(
what
a
pity
it
was
that
so
elegant
and
elevated
a
personage
had
retained
his
unworthy
patronymic
of
Tunks
!
)
took
a
candle
from
the
table
,
and
conducted
the
Resurrection
Man
down
stairs
into
a
back
room
,
which
the
Chief
denominated
his
"
private
parlour
.
"
"
Now
for
your
information
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
somewhat
impatiently
.
"
In
the
first
place
,
have
you
discovered
any
thing
concerning
Crankey
Jem
Cuffin
?
"
"
My
emissaries
have
been
successful
in
every
instance
,
"
answered
Tunks
,
with
a
complacent
smile
.
"
A
man
exactly
corresponding
with
your
description
of
Crankey
Jem
dwells
in
an
obscure
court
in
Drury
Lane
.
Here
is
the
address
.
"
"
Any
tidings
of
Margaret
Flathers
?
"
inquired
Tidkins
.
"
She
has
married
a
young
man
who
answers
to
your
description
of
Skilligalee
;
and
they
keep
a
small
chandlery-shop
in
Pitfield
Street
,
Hoxton
Old
Town
.
The
name
of
Mitchell
is
over
the
door
.
"
"
Your
lads
are
devilish
sharp
fellows
,
Bully
Grand
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
approvingly
.
"
With
thirty-six
emissaries
all
over
London
every
day
,
it
is
not
so
very
difficult
to
obtain
such
information
as
you
required
,
"
returned
Tunks
.
"
Moreover
,
you
paid
liberally
in
advance
;
and
the
boys
will
always
be
glad
to
serve
you
.
"
"
Now
for
the
next
question
,
"
said
Tidkins
.
"
Any
news
of
the
old
man
that
Tomlinson
goes
to
see
sometimes
?
"
"
Yes
—
he
lives
in
a
small
lodging
in
Thomas
Street
,
Bethnal
Green
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
There
is
his
address
also
.
His
name
is
Nelson
:
—
you
best
know
whether
it
is
his
right
one
or
not
.
That
is
no
business
of
mine
.
Mr.
Tomlinson
regularly
calls
on
him
every
Sunday
afternoon
,
and
passes
some
hours
with
him
.
The
old
man
never
stirs
out
,
and
is
very
unwell
.
"
"
Once
more
I
must
compliment
your
boys
,
"
exclaimed
Tidkins
,
overjoyed
with
this
intelligence
.
"
Have
you
been
able
to
learn
any
thing
concerning
Katherine
Wilmot
?
"
"
There
I
have
also
succeeded
,
"
replied
Mr.
Tunks
.
"
My
boys
discovered
that
,
after
the
trial
of
Katherine
,
she
lunched
with
some
friends
at
an
inn
in
the
Old
Bailey
,
and
shortly
afterwards
left
in
a
post-chaise
.
She
was
accompanied
by
an
old
lady
;
and
the
chaise
took
them
to
Hounslow
.
"
"
And
there
,
I
suppose
,
all
traces
of
them
disappear
?
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
inquiringly
.
"
Not
at
all
.
I
sent
Leary
Lipkins
down
to
Hounslow
yesterday
;
and
he
discovered
that
Miss
Wilmot
is
staying
at
a
farm-house
belonging
to
a
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Bennet
.
"
"
Precisely
!
"
exclaimed
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
That
Mrs.
Bennet
was
a
witness
on
the
trial
.
I
remember
reading
all
about
it
.
She
was
the
sister
of
the
woman
whom
Reginald
Tracy
murdered
.
"
"
The
farm
is
only
a
short
distance
from
Hounslow
,
"
observed
the
Bully
Grand
:
"
any
one
in
the
town
can
direct
you
to
it
.
Most
probably
it
was
with
this
Mrs.
Bennet
that
Miss
Wilmot
travelled
in
the
post-chaise
.
"
"
Evidently
so
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
But
of
that
no
matter
.
All
I
required
was
Katherine
Wilmot
's
address
;
and
you
have
discovered
it
.
Now
for
my
last
question
.
Have
you
ascertained
whether
it
will
be
possible
to
bribe
the
clerk
of
the
church
where
Lord
Ravensworth
and
the
Honourable
Miss
Adeline
Enfield
were
married
,
to
tear
out
the
leaf
of
the
register
which
contains
the
entry
of
that
union
?
"
"
I
have
learnt
that
the
clerk
is
open
to
bribery
:
but
he
is
a
cautious
man
,
and
will
not
allow
himself
to
be
sounded
too
deeply
in
the
matter
,
"
was
the
answer
.
"
Then
that
business
must
regard
me
,
"
observed
the
Resurrection
Man
.
"
You
have
served
me
well
in
all
these
matters
.
Twenty
pounds
I
gave
you
the
other
day
:
here
are
twenty
pounds
more
.
Are
you
satisfied
?
"
"
I
have
every
reason
to
be
pleased
with
your
liberality
,
"
returned
the
Bully
Grand
,
folding
up
the
bank-notes
with
his
delicate
fingers
.
"
Have
you
any
further
commands
at
present
?
"
"
Yes
,
"
replied
the
Resurrection
Man
,
after
a
few
moments
'
consideration
:
"
let
one
of
your
lads
take
a
couple
of
notes
for
me
.
"
While
the
Bully
Grand
proceeded
to
summon
Leary
Lipkins
,
the
Resurrection
Man
seated
himself
at
a
desk
which
there
was
in
the
room
,
and
wrote
the
following
note
:
—
"
The
news
I
have
just
received
are
rather
good
than
bad
.
The
clerk
is
open
to
bribery
,
but
is
cautious
.
I
will
myself
call
upon
him
the
day
after
to-morrow
;
and
I
will
meet
you
afterwards
,
at
our
usual
place
of
appointment
,
in
the
evening
between
six
and
seven
.
But
you
must
find
money
somehow
or
another
:
I
am
incurring
expenses
in
this
matter
,
and
cannot
work
for
nothing
.
Surely
Greenwood
will
assist
you
?
"
This
letter
was
sealed
and
addressed
to
"
Gilbert
Vernon
,
Esq.
,
No.
—
Stamford
Street
.
"
The
Resurrection
Man
then
penned
another
note
which
ran
thus
:
—
"
I
have
discovered
Katherine
's
address
,
and
shall
call
upon
you
the
day
after
to-morrow
at
nine
o'clock
in
the
evening
.
Remain
at
home
;
as
you
know
the
importance
of
the
business
.
"
By
the
time
he
had
concluded
his
correspondence
,
the
Bully
Grand
had
returned
with
Leary
Lipkins
.
"
My
good
lad
,
"
said
the
Resurrection
Man
,
addressing
the
latter
,
"
here
are
two
notes
,
which
you
must
deliver
this
night
—
this
night
,
mind
.
The
first
is
addressed
;
and
the
person
for
whom
it
is
intended
never
retires
to
bed
until
very
late
.
He
will
be
up
,
when
you
call
at
the
house
where
he
lodges
in
Stamford
Street
.
Give
the
letter
into
his
own
hand
.
You
must
then
proceed
to
Golden
Lane
;
and
in
the
third
court
on
the
right-hand
side
of
the
way
,
and
in
the
fourth
house
on
the
left-hand
in
that
court
,
an
old
woman
lives
.
You
must
knock
till
she
answers
you
;
and
give
her
this
second
letter
.
I
actually
do
not
know
her
name
,
although
I
have
dealings
with
her
at
present
.
"
Leary
Lipkins
promised
to
fulfil
these
directions
,
and
immediately
departed
to
execute
them
.
Shortly
afterwards
the
Resurrection
Man
took
his
leave
of
the
Bully
Grand
,
and
left
the
head-quarters
of
the
Forty
Thieves
.
Henry
Holford
,
who
had
never
lost
sight
of
the
door
of
that
house
since
he
had
seen
the
Resurrection
Man
enter
it
,
and
who
had
remained
concealed
in
the
shade
of
an
overhanging
frontage
opposite
for
more
than
two
hours
,
resumed
his
task
of
dogging
that
formidable
individual
.
The
Resurrection
Man
passed
down
Mint
Street
,
into
the
Borough
,
and
called
a
cab
from
the
nearest
stand
,
saying
to
the
driver
,
"
New
Church
,
Bethnal
Green
.
"
The
moment
Tidkins
was
ensconced
within
,
and
the
driver
was
seated
on
his
box
,
Henry
Holford
crept
softly
behind
the
cab
.
In
that
manner
he
rode
unmolested
until
within
a
short
distance
of
the
place
of
destination
,
when
he
descended
,
and
followed
the
vehicle
on
foot
.
The
cab
stopped
near
the
railings
that
surround
the
church
;
and
the
Resurrection
Man
,
having
settled
the
fare
,
hurried
onwards
into
Globe
Town
,
Holford
still
dogging
him
—
but
with
the
utmost
caution
.
Presently
Tidkins
struck
into
a
bye-street
at
the
eastern
extremity
of
the
Happy
Valley
(
as
,
our
readers
will
remember
,
Globe
Town
is
denominated
in
the
gazetteer
of
metropolitan
thieves
)
,
and
stopped
at
the
door
of
a
house
of
dilapidated
appearance
.
In
a
word
,
this
was
the
very
den
where
we
have
before
seen
him
conducting
his
infamous
plots
,
and
in
the
subterranean
vaults
of
which
Viola
Chichester
was
imprisoned
for
a
period
of
three
weeks
.
Holford
saw
the
Resurrection
Man
enter
this
house
by
the
front
door
communicating
with
the
street
.
He
watched
the
windows
for
a
few
moments
,
and
then
perceived
a
light
suddenly
appear
in
the
room
on
the
upper
floor
.
"
I
have
succeeded
!
"
exclaimed
Holford
,
aloud
,
"
the
villain
lives
there
!
I
have
traced
him
to
his
lurking-hole
;
and
Jem
may
yet
be
avenged
!
"
Then
,
in
order
to
be
enabled
to
give
an
accurate
description
of
the
house
to
the
returned
convict
,
Holford
studied
its
situation
and
appearance
with
careful
attention
.
He
observed
that
it
was
two
storeys
high
,
and
that
by
the
side
was
a
dark
alley
.
At
length
he
was
convinced
that
he
should
be
enabled
to
find
that
particular
dwelling
again
,
or
to
direct
Crankey
Jem
to
it
without
the
possibility
of
error
;
and
,
rejoicing
at
being
thus
enabled
to
oblige
his
new
friend
,
the
young
man
commenced
his
long
and
weary
walk
back
to
Drury
Lane
.
CHAPTER
CXCIII
.
ANOTHER
VISIT
TO
BUCKINGHAM
PALACE
.
It
was
the
evening
following
the
one
the
incidents
of
which
occupied
the
preceding
chapter
.
Beneath
a
sofa
in
the
Ball
Room
of
Buckingham
Palace
,
Henry
Holford
lay
concealed
.
It
would
be
a
mere
repetition
of
statements
made
in
former
portions
of
this
work
,
were
we
to
describe
the
means
by
which
the
young
man
obtained
access
to
the
most
private
parts
of
the
royal
dwelling
.
We
may
,
however
,
observe
that
he
had
paid
frequent
visits
to
the
palace
since
the
occasion
when
we
first
saw
him
enter
those
sacred
precincts
at
the
commencement
of
January
,
1839
;
and
that
he
was
as
familiar
with
the
interior
of
the
sovereign
's
abode
,
even
to
its
most
retired
chambers
,
as
any
of
its
numerous
inmates
.
He
had
run
many
risks
of
discovery
;
but
a
species
of
good
fortune
seemed
to
attend
upon
him
in
these
strange
and
romantic
ventures
;
and
those
frequent
alarms
had
never
as
yet
terminated
in
his
detection
.
Thus
he
became
emboldened
in
his
intrusions
;
and
he
now
lay
beneath
the
sofa
in
the
Ball
Room
,
with
no
more
apprehension
than
he
would
have
entertained
if
some
authority
in
the
palace
had
actually
connived
at
his
presence
there
.
It
was
nine
o'clock
in
the
evening
;
and
the
Ball
Room
was
brilliantly
illuminated
.
But
as
yet
the
low-born
pot-boy
was
its
sole
occupant
.
Not
long
,
however
,
was
he
doomed
to
that
solitude
.
By
a
strange
coincidence
,
the
two
noble
ladies
whose
conversation
had
so
much
interested
him
on
the
occasion
of
his
first
visit
to
the
palace
,
entered
the
room
shortly
after
nine
o'clock
.
He
recognised
their
voices
immediately
;
and
he
was
delighted
at
their
arrival
,
for
their
former
dialogues
had
awakened
the
most
lively
sentiments
of
curiosity
in
his
mind
.
But
since
his
intrusion
in
January
,
1839
,
he
had
never
seen
nor
heard
them
in
his
subsequent
visits
to
the
royal
dwelling
,
until
the
present
occasion
;
and
now
,
as
they
advanced
through
the
room
together
,
he
held
his
breath
to
catch
the
words
that
fell
from
them
.
"
The
dinner-party
was
tiresome
to-day
,
my
dear
countess
,
"
observed
the
duchess
:
"
her
Majesty
did
not
appear
to
be
in
good
spirits
.
"
"
Alas
!
"
exclaimed
the
lady
thus
addressed
,
"
our
gracious
sovereign
's
melancholy
fits
occur
at
less
distant
intervals
as
she
grows
older
.
"
"
And
yet
her
Majesty
has
every
earthly
reason
to
be
happy
,
"
said
the
duchess
.
"
The
Prince
appears
to
be
devotedly
attached
to
her
;
and
the
Princess
Royal
is
a
sweet
babe
.
"
"
Worldly
prosperity
will
not
always
ensure
felicity
,
"
returned
the
countess
;
"
and
this
your
grace
must
have
perceived
amongst
the
circle
of
your
acquaintance
.
Her
Majesty
is
a
prey
to
frequent
fits
of
despondency
,
which
are
distressing
to
the
faithful
subjects
who
have
the
honour
to
be
near
the
royal
person
.
She
will
sit
for
an
hour
at
a
time
,
in
moody
contemplation
of
that
sweet
babe
;
and
her
countenance
then
wears
an
expression
of
such
profound
—
such
plaintive
—
such
touching
melancholy
,
that
I
have
frequently
wept
to
behold
her
thus
.
"
"
What
can
be
the
cause
of
this
intermittent
despondency
?
"
inquired
the
duchess
.
"
It
is
constitutional
,
"
answered
the
countess
.
"
The
fit
comes
upon
her
Majesty
at
moments
when
she
is
surrounded
by
all
the
elements
of
pleasure
,
happiness
,
and
joy
.
It
is
a
dark
spirit
against
which
no
mind
,
however
powerful
,
can
wrestle
.
The
only
method
of
mitigating
the
violence
of
its
attacks
is
the
bustle
of
travelling
:
—
then
novelty
,
change
of
scene
,
exercise
,
and
the
demonstrations
of
popular
devotion
seem
to
relieve
our
beloved
sovereign
from
the
influence
of
that
morbid
,
moody
melancholy
.
"
"
I
believe
that
when
we
conversed
upon
this
topic
on
a
former
occasion
,
—
it
must
be
at
least
two
years
ago
,
—
your
ladyship
hinted
at
the
existence
of
hereditary
idiosyncrasies
in
the
Royal
Family
?
"
observed
the
duchess
,
inquiringly
.
"
Indeed
,
"
added
her
grace
,
hastily
,
"
I
well
remember
that
you
alluded
to
the
unfortunate
attachment
of
George
the
Third
for
a
certain
Quakeress
—
—
"
"
Yes
—
Hannah
Lightfoot
,
to
whom
the
monarch
,
when
a
prince
,
was
privately
united
,
"
answered
the
countess
.
"
His
baffled
love
—
the
necessity
which
compelled
him
to
renounce
one
to
whom
he
was
devotedly
attached
—
and
the
constant
dread
which
he
entertained
lest
the
secret
of
this
marriage
should
transpire
,
acted
upon
his
mind
in
a
manner
that
subsequently
produced
those
dread
results
which
are
matters
of
history
.
"
"
You
allude
to
his
madness
,
"
said
the
duchess
,
with
a
shudder
.
"
Yes
,
your
grace
—
that
madness
which
is
,
alas
!
hereditary
,
"
replied
the
countess
solemnly
.
"
But
George
the
Third
had
many
—
many
domestic
afflictions
.
Oh
!
if
you
knew
all
,
you
would
not
be
surprised
that
he
had
lost
his
reason
!
The
profligacy
of
some
of
his
children
—
most
of
them
—
was
alone
sufficient
to
turn
his
brain
.
Many
of
those
instances
of
profligacy
have
transpired
;
and
although
the
public
have
not
been
able
to
arrive
at
any
positive
proofs
respecting
the
matters
,
I
can
nevertheless
assure
your
grace
that
such
proofs
are
in
existence
—
and
in
my
possession
!
"
"
Your
ladyship
once
before
hinted
as
much
to
me
;
and
I
must
confess
that
without
having
any
morbid
inclination
for
vulgar
scandal
,
I
feel
some
curiosity
in
respect
to
those
matters
.
"
"
Some
day
I
will
place
in
your
hand
papers
of
a
fearful
import
,
in
connexion
with
the
Royal
Family
,
"
returned
the
countess
.
"
Your
grace
will
then
perceive
that
profligacy
the
most
abandoned
—
crimes
the
most
heinous
—
vices
the
most
depraved
,
characterised
nearly
all
the
children
of
George
the
Third
.
There
is
one
remarkable
fact
relative
to
that
prince
's
marriage
with
Hannah
Lightfoot
.
The
Royal
Marriage
Act
was
not
passed
until
thirteen
years
after
this
union
,
and
could
not
therefore
set
it
aside
;
and
yet
Hannah
Lightfoot
was
still
living
when
the
prince
espoused
Charlotte
Sophia
Princess
of
Mecklenburgh
Strelitz
in
1761
.
"
"
Is
this
possible
?
"
exclaimed
the
duchess
,
profoundly
surprised
.
"
It
is
possible
—
it
is
true
!
"
said
the
countess
emphatically
.
"
In
1772
the
Royal
Marriage
Act
[
25
]
was
passed
,
and
provided
that
no
member
of
the
Royal
Family
should
contract
a
marriage
without
the
sovereign
's
consent
.
This
measure
was
enacted
for
several
reasons
;
but
principally
because
the
King
's
two
brothers
had
formed
private
matrimonial
connexions
,
—
the
Duke
of
Cumberland
with
Mrs.
Horton
,
a
widow
—
and
the
Duke
of
Gloucester
with
the
widow
of
the
Earl
of
Waldegrave
.
"
"
The
act
certainly
appears
to
me
most
cruel
and
oppressive
,
"
said
the
duchess
;
"
inasmuch
as
it
interferes
with
the
tenderest
affections
and
most
charming
of
human
sympathies
—
feelings
which
royalty
has
in
common
with
all
the
rest
of
mankind
.
"
"
I
cordially
agree
with
your
grace
,
"
observed
the
countess
.
"
The
law
is
barbarous
—
monstrous
—
revolting
;
and
its
evil
effects
were
evidenced
by
almost
every
member
of
the
family
of
George
the
Third
.
In
the
first
place
,
the
Prince
of
Wales
(
afterwards
George
the
Fourth
)
was
privately
united
to
Mrs.
Fitzherbert
,
at
the
house
of
that
lady
's
uncle
,
Lord
Sefton
.
Fox
,
Sheridan
,
and
Burke
were
present
at
the
ceremony
,
in
addition
to
my
mother
and
several
relations
of
the
bride
.
Mr.
Fox
handed
her
into
the
carriage
;
and
the
happy
pair
proceeded
to
Richmond
,
where
they
passed
a
week
or
ten
days
.
Queen
Charlotte
was
made
acquainted
with
the
marriage
:
she
sent
for
her
son
,
and
demanded
an
explanation
.
The
prince
avowed
the
truth
.
Your
grace
has
,
of
course
,
read
the
discussion
which
took
place
in
connexion
with
this
subject
,
in
the
House
of
Commons
,
in
1787.
Mr.
Rolle
,
the
member
for
Devonshire
,
mysteriously
alluded
to
the
union
:
Mr.
Fox
rose
up
,
and
denied
it
;
but
from
that
day
forth
Mrs.
Fitzherbert
never
spoke
to
Fox
again
.
Sheridan
let
the
truth
escape
him
:
—
he
said
,
'
A
lady
who
has
been
alluded
to
,
is
without
reproach
,
and
is
entitled
to
the
truest
and
most
general
respect
.
'
How
would
Mrs.
Fitzherbert
have
been
without
reproach
,
or
entitled
to
respect
,
if
she
were
not
married
to
the
prince
?
But
I
have
proofs
—
convincing
proofs
—
that
such
an
union
did
actually
take
place
,
although
it
was
certainly
null
and
void
in
consequence
of
the
Marriage
Act
.
"
"
It
nevertheless
subsisted
according
to
the
feelings
and
inclinations
of
the
parties
interested
,
"
said
the
duchess
;
"
and
it
was
based
on
honour
,
if
on
no
legal
principle
.
"
"
Alas
!
"
whispered
the
countess
,
casting
a
rapid
glance
around
;
"
the
word
honour
must
not
be
mentioned
in
connexion
with
the
name
of
George
the
Fourth
.
It
pains
me
to
speak
ill
of
the
ancestors
of
our
lovely
queen
:
but
—
if
we
converse
on
the
subject
at
all
—
truth
must
influence
our
observations
.
The
entire
life
of
George
the
Fourth
was
one
of
profligacy
and
crime
.
Often
have
I
marvelled
how
one
possessing
a
soul
so
refined
as
Georgiana
,
the
beautiful
Duchess
of
Devonshire
,
could
have
resigned
herself
to
such
a
degraded
voluptuary
—
such
a
low
debauchee
.
Yet
she
was
his
Queen
of
Love
,
surrounded
by
her
graces
,
who
,
however
,
bore
the
modern
names
of
Craven
,
Windham
,
and
Jersey
.
"
"
Carlton
House
has
,
indeed
,
beheld
strange
and
varied
scenes
,
"
said
the
duchess
;
"
low
orgies
and
voluptuous
revels
—
music
floating
here
—
dice
rattling
there
—
the
refinements
of
existence
in
one
room
,
and
the
most
degraded
dissipation
in
another
.
"
"
Such
was
the
case
,
"
observed
the
countess
.
"
But
let
us
return
to
the
consequences
of
the
Royal
Marriage
Act
.
Rumour
has
told
much
in
connexion
with
the
coupled
names
of
the
Duke
of
York
and
Mrs.
Clarke
—
the
late
King
William
and
Mrs.
Jordan
;
and
so
well
known
are
these
facts
that
I
need
not
dwell
upon
them
.
The
matrimonial
connexions
of
the
Duke
of
Sussex
—
first
with
Lady
Augusta
Murray
,
and
afterwards
with
Lady
Cecilia
Underwood
,
[
26
]
are
all
matters
resting
upon
something
more
solid
than
mere
conjecture
.
"
"
And
the
Duke
of
Cumberland
—
the
present
King
of
Hanover
?
"
said
the
duchess
inquiringly
.
"
It
is
dangerous
to
speak
of
him
,
"
whispered
the
countess
;
"
because
it
is
impossible
to
utter
a
word
in
his
favour
.
"
"
You
surely
cannot
believe
all
the
tales
that
have
been
circulated
against
him
?
"
exclaimed
the
duchess
,
earnestly
watching
the
countenance
of
her
companion
,
as
if
to
anticipate
her
reply
.
"
Does
your
grace
particularly
allude
to
the
death
of
Sellis
?
"
asked
the
countess
,
turning
her
head
so
as
to
meet
the
glance
of
her
friend
.
"
Because
,
"
continued
she
,
without
waiting
for
a
reply
,
"
I
should
be
sorry
—
nay
,
nothing
should
induce
me
—
to
state
in
plain
terms
my
impression
relative
to
that
event
.
I
may
,
however
,
allude
to
a
few
material
points
.
Sir
Everard
Home
,
the
medical
attendant
of
the
Duke
of
Cumberland
,
frequently
observed
,
'
that
too
much
pains
were
taken
to
involve
that
affair
in
mystery
;
'
and
another
eminent
physician
,
since
dead
,
declared
that
'
the
head
of
Sellis
was
nearly
severed
from
his
body
,
and
that
no
man
could
inflict
upon
himself
a
wound
of
such
a
depth
.
'
The
Duke
of
Cumberland
stated
that
his
valet
,
Sellis
,
entered
his
bed-chamber
and
attacked
him
with
a
sword
;
and
that
having
failed
in
his
murderous
purposes
,
he
retired
to
his
own
room
and
committed
suicide
.
Sir
Everard
Home
distinctly
proved
,
on
the
inquest
,
that
the
corpse
was
found
lying
on
its
side
on
the
bed
;
and
yet
'
he
had
cut
his
own
throat
so
effectually
that
he
could
not
have
changed
his
position
after
inflicting
the
wound
.
'
I
will
not
,
however
,
make
any
observations
upon
that
fact
and
this
statement
which
seem
so
conflicting
:
the
subject
is
almost
too
awful
to
deal
with
.
There
is
still
one
remarkable
point
to
which
the
attention
of
those
who
discuss
the
dark
affair
should
be
directed
:
—
the
hand-basin
in
Sellis
's
room
was
half
full
of
blood-stained
water
,
and
it
is
very
clear
that
the
miserable
wretch
himself
could
not
have
risen
to
wash
his
hands
after
the
wound
was
inflicted
in
his
throat
.
But
let
us
not
dwell
on
this
horrible
event
:
the
mere
mention
of
it
makes
me
shudder
.
"
"
The
King
of
Hanover
has
been
,
at
least
,
unfortunate
in
many
circumstances
of
his
life
,
if
not
guilty
,
"
observed
the
duchess
;
"
because
his
enemies
have
insisted
strongly
upon
the
suspicious
nature
of
the
incident
of
which
we
have
been
speaking
.
"
"
The
more
so
,
because
it
was
known
that
the
Duke
of
Cumberland
had
intrigued
with
the
wife
of
Sellis
,
"
returned
the
countess
.
"
As
your
grace
declares
,
that
exalted
personage
has
been
indeed
unfortunate
—
if
nothing
more
.
In
1830
