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Perhaps a man never sees so much at a glance as when he is in
a situation of extremity。 The chances are a hundred to one； that if
Barnaby had lounged in at the gate to look about him； he would
have lounged out again with a very imperfect idea of the place；
and would have remembered very little about it。 But as he was
taken handcuffed across the gravelled area； nothing escaped his
notice。 The dry； arid look of the dusty square； and of the bare brick
building； the clothes hanging at some of the windows； and the men
in their shirt…sleeves and braces； lolling with half their bodies out
of the others； the green sun…blinds at the officers’ quarters； and
the little scanty trees in front； the drummer…boys practising in a
distant courtyard； the men at drill on the parade； the two soldiers
carrying a basket between them； who winked to each other as he
went by； and slily pointed to their throats； the spruce serjeant who
hurried past with a cane in his hand； and under his arm a clasped
book with a vellum cover； the fellows in the ground…floor rooms；
furbishing and brushing up their different articles of dress； who
stopped to look at him； and whose voices as they spoke together
echoed loudly through the empty galleries and passages；—
everything； down to the stand of muskets before the guard…house；
and the drum with a pipe…clayed belt attached； in one corner；
impressed itself upon his observation； as though he had noticed
them in the same place a hundred times； or had been a whole day
among them； in place of one brief hurried minute。
He was taken into a small paved back yard； and there they
opened a great door； plated with iron； and pierced some five feet
above the ground with a few holes to let in air and light。 Into this
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dungeon he was walked straightway； and having locked him up
there； and placed a sentry over him； they left him to his
meditations。
The cell； or black hole； for it had those words painted on the
door； was very dark； and having recently accommodated a
drunken deserter； by no means clean。 Barnaby felt his way to
some straw at the farther end； and looking towards the door； tried
to accustom himself to the gloom； which； coming from the bright
sunshine out of doors； was not an easy task。
There was a kind of portico or colonnade outside； and this
obstructed even the little light that at the best could have found its
way through the small apertures in the door。 The footsteps of the
sentinel echoed monotonously as he paced its stone pavement to
and fro （reminding Barnaby of the watch he had so lately kept
himself）； and as he passed and repassed the door； he made the cell
for an instant so black by the interposition of his body； that his
going away again seemed like the appearance of a new ray of light；
and was quite a circumstance to look for。
When the prisoner had sat sometime upon the ground； gazing
at the chinks； and listening to the advancing and receding
footsteps of his guard； the man stood still upon his post。 Barnaby；
quite unable to think； or to speculate on what would be done with
him； had been lulled into a kind of doze by his regular pace； but
his stopping roused him； and then he became aware that two men
were in conversation under the colonnade； and very near the door
of his cell。
How long they had been talking there； he could not tell； for he
had fallen into an unconsciousness of his real position； and when
the footsteps ceased； was answering aloud some question which
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Barnaby Rudge 623
seemed to have been put to him by Hugh in the stable； though of
the fancied purport； either of question or reply； notwithstanding
that he awoke with the latter on his lips； he had no recollection
whatever。 The first words that reached his ears； were these：
‘Why is he brought here then； if he has to be taken away again
so soon？’
‘Why where would you have him go！ Damme； he’s not as safe
anywhere as among the king’s troops； is he？ What would you do
with him？ Would you hand him over to a pack of cowardly
civilians； that shake in their shoes till they wear the soles out； with
trembling at the threats of the ragamuffins he belongs to？’
‘That’s true enough。’
‘True enough！—I’ll tell you what。 I wish； Tom Green； that I was
a commissioned instead of a non…commissioned officer； and that I
had the command of two companies—only two companies—of my
own regiment。 Call me out to stop these riots—give me the needful
authority； and half…a…dozen rounds of ball cartridge—’
‘Ay！’ said the other voice。 ‘That’s all very well； but they won’t
give the needful authority。 If the magistrate won’t give the word；
what’s the officer to do？’
Not very well knowing； as it seemed； how to overcome this
difficulty； the other man contented himself with damning the
magistrates。
‘With all my heart；’ said his friend。
‘Where’s the use of a magistrate？’ returned the other voice。
‘What’s a magistrate in this case； but an impertinent； unnecessary；
unconstitutional sort of interference？ Here’s a proclamation。
Here’s a man referred to in that proclamation。 Here’s proof
against him； and a witness on the spot。 Damme！ Take him out and
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shoot him； sir。 Who wants a magistrate？’
‘When does he go before Sir John Fielding？’ asked the man
who had spoken first。
‘To…night at eight o’clock；’ returned the other。 ‘Mark what
follows。 The magistrate commits him to Newgate。 Our people take
him to Newgate。 The rioters pelt our people。 Our people retire
before the rioters。 Stones are thrown； insults are offered； not a
shot’s fired。 Why？ Because of the magistrates。 Damn the
magistrates！’
When he had in some degree relieved his mind by cursing the
magistrates in various other forms of speech； the man was silent；
save for a low growling； still having reference to those authorities；
which from time to time escaped him。
Barnaby； who had wit enough to know that this conversation
concerned； and very nearly concerned； himself； remained
perfectly quiet until they ceased to speak； when he groped his way
to the door； and peeping through the air…holes； tried to make out
what kind of men they were； to whom he had been listening。
The one who condemned the civil power in such strong terms；
was a serjeant—engaged just then； as the streaming ribands in his
cap announced； on the recruiting service。 He stood leaning
sideways against a pillar nearly opposite the door； and as he
growled to himself； drew figures on the pavement with his cane。
The other man had his back towards the dungeon； and Barnaby
could only see his form。 To judge from that； he was a gallant；
manly； handsome fellow； but he had lost his left arm。 It had been
taken off between the elbow and the shoulder； and his empty coat…
sleeve hung across his breast。
It was probably this circumstance which gave him an interest
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beyond any that his companion could boast of； and attracted
Barnaby’s attention。 There was something soldierly in his bearing；
and he wore a jaunty cap and jacket。 Perhaps he