The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 249: what you’re looking at

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THE verge of the pavement at the debtor's door. The carpenters then proceedea to fix the ladder and erect the huge beams of the gibbet,—all their ope- rations being viewed with intense curiosity and deep interest by the multitude that was swelling in bulk and volume every moment. From an early hour a black fellow, roughly dressed and carrying a huge elub in his hand, had been Jurking near the dektor’s door: and when the barrier was put up, he elbowed his way to a place as near that door as possible. There he re- mained fixed like a statue—leaning with his arms upon the barrier, and neither addressing a word toa soul nor appearing to pay any attention to the dis- course that was going on in his hearing. It was seven o’clock in the morning before Dy- sart awoke from his slumber: and he would per- haps have slept on, had not the entrance of the chaplain disturbed him. He inquired the hour, and on being informed, was astonished to hear that it was so late. ** You have slept well?” said the chaplain. “ Never better in my life,’ responded the eriminal, gaily. “I will now get up” * And in ten minutes I will return,” said the chaplain. The reverend gentleman then quitted the cell— and Dysart proceeded to wash aud dress himself with as much unconcern as he had displayed when eating his supper over night. On the return of the chaplain, he asked if the sheriff had yet arrived ; but the response was in the negative. The Ordinary then hinted that it would be proper for them to join in prayer: but Dysart exclaimed, ‘ You don’t think, sir, that it is at all necessary just now—do you?” ¢ Prayer is always seasonable and of much avail,” -was the chaplain’s response. “ But you feel convinced that I shall be re- prieved?” said Dysart, with some little manifesta- tion of uneasiness, or rather perhaps of impatience, “The governor has assured me that such will be | the case,” answered the Ordinary, “and I believe j | | | him to be far too cautious a man to venture such a statement unless on good authority.” * When the seriff comes I can ask him,” oo- served Dysart. — “ My good friena, that will be a breach of con- fidence,” said the chaplain, ina tone of remonstranee, — and would probably lead to the loss of our situ- tions for both the governor and myself.” “ True! I had forgotten that!” exclaimed Dy- sart. “ Will you beso kind as to ask the governor to come to me?” * Certainly,” replied the chaplain: and he once more quitted the cell. When left alone, Dysart walked backward and forward with a restlessness that he had not before experienced. He endeavoured to shake off the feeling—but it was rapidly growing upon him. Horrible thoughts began to spring up in his mind. What if the Prince should have been playing him false all along—or alter his resolve at the last mo- ment ?—whatif Ernestina had been deceiving him ? —or suppose tliat every intention and every assur- ance had been sincere in those quarters, might not the reprieve come too late? ‘i'hese thoughts were dreadful. ‘he unhappy man, hitherto lulled into complete security, had now suddenly awakened as it were toa galling, goading, agonizing sense of the tremendous fact that his life hung to a thread! —-— wae ee ae ee MYSTERIES OF TIIE COURT. 355 He would have screamed out,—he could have yelled with mortal anguish : but at the instant the parox- ysm reached its crisis, the chaplain returned to the cell, followed by the governor. The expression of the two functionaries’ coun- tenances instantaneously relieved Dysart’s awful terrors. The effect was the same as the sudden pouring of oil upon the raging billows: and even before a word was spoken, he felt angry with hin- self for having yielded to the influence of such agonising alarm. “Good morning, Mr. Dysart,” said the governor, taking him by the hand: then, in a lower voice he added, “A sealed packet from the Home Office, directed to the sheriff, has just arrived. But for heaven's sake do not appear to know this fact: it is as much as my place is worth to have told you.” * Not on any consideration would [ injure you, my dear sir,” answered Dysart, joyfully pressing” the governor’s hand, “after all your kindness to me. But is the sheriff come ?—has he opened the packet ?—does it contain the reprieve ?” “1 cannot possibly be anything else,” returned the governor. “The sheriff will not be here till a quarter to eight—nor will he open the packet in my presence. I dare not even ask him what it contains: but I have not the slightest—no, not the slightest doubt y “What o'clock is it now?” demanded the crimi- nal, hurriedly. “Half-past seven. Will you take some break- fast? Indeed, you must appear as if you antici- pated the very worst,” said the governor, with marked emphasis. “ Since L have nothing to apprehend, Ff can as- sume an air which shall pass for firmness,” replied Dysart. “Yes—let me have some breakfast: it will warm me.” Leaving the interior of the prison for a few mo- | meuts, we will again glance to the aspect of the scene outside. The morning was dull and gloomy: and soon after the break of day, a fine mizzling rain had begun to fall. The crowd was immense, To the farther extremity of the Old Bailey in the one direction, and to tne very verge of Smithfield market on the other, it was a complete ocean of human faces. Men and women—numbers of the latter with young children in their arms,—boys and girls, even of a tender age,—all were packed as densely as the aggregation of such a mass of life could possibly become. Every window and house-top commanding a view of the gaol’s front and the looming gallows, had been put into requis sition by the anxious spectators. Precisely oppo» site the gibbet, a first-floor apartment was tenanted for the nonce by the aristocrats who had passed the night at the Saracen’s Head ;—and having well breakfasted off devilled kidneys, coffee, and toast, these worthies found themselves in an ex- cellent humour to enjoy the drama about to be enacted. At a quarter to eight one of the sheriffs, the two under-sheriffs, and a couple of aldermen arrived at the gaol They were immediately ushered into the governor's drawing-room; aud the sealed packet from the Home Office was de- livered to the sheriff. le at once retired into a -_—— OTT TT i Ee i i ATE a Me! ON OC EEL TE CA OE ONE =—T ee ee ee eT eS ee private room to open it: and having perused the | contents, which were laconie eno sh, he carefally GOmiGoOOKSnG 3