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Mr Dennis； who had been bred and nurtured in the good old
school； and had administered the good old laws on the good old
plan； always once and sometimes twice every six weeks； for a long
time； bore these appeals with a deal of philosophy。 Being at last；
however； rather disturbed in his pleasant reflection by their
repetition； he rapped at one of the doors with his stick； and cried：
‘Hold your noise there； will you？’
At this they all cried together that they were to be hanged on
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the next day but one； and again implored his aid。
‘Aid！ For what！’ said Mr Dennis； playfully rapping the knuckles
of the hand nearest him。
‘To save us！’ they cried。
‘Oh； certainly；’ said Mr Dennis； winking at the wall in the
absence of any friend with whom he could humour the joke。 ‘And
so you’re to be worked off； are you； brothers？’
‘Unless we are released to…night；’ one of them cried； ‘we are
dead men！’
‘I tell you what it is；’ said the hangman； gravely； ‘I’m afraid； my
friend； that you’re not in that ’ere state of mind that’s suitable to
your condition； then； you’re not a…going to be released： don’t think
it—Will you leave off that ’ere indecent row？ I wonder you an’t
ashamed of yourselves； I do。’
He followed up this reproof by rapping every set of knuckles
one after the other； and having done so； resumed his seat again
with a cheerful countenance。
‘You’ve had law；’ he said； crossing his legs and elevating his
eyebrows： ‘laws have been made a’ purpose for you； a wery
handsome prison’s been made a’ purpose for you； a parson’s kept
a purpose for you； a constitootional officer’s appointed a’ purpose
for you； carts is maintained a’ purpose for you—and yet you’re not
contented！—Will you hold that noise； you sir in the furthest？’
A groan was the only answer。
‘So well as I can make out；’ said Mr Dennis； in a tone of mingled
badinage and remonstrance； ‘there’s not a man among you。 I begin
to think I’m on the opposite side； and among the ladies； though for
the matter of that； I’ve seen a many ladies face it out； in a manner
that did honour to the sex。—You in number two； don’t grind them
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teeth of yours。 Worse manners；’ said the hangman； rapping at the
door with his stick； ‘I never see in this place afore。 I’m ashamed of
you。 You’re a disgrace to the Bailey。’
After pausing for a moment to hear if anything could be
pleaded in justification； Mr Dennis resumed in a sort of coaxing
tone：
‘Now look’ee here； you four。 I’m come here to take care of you；
and see that you an’t burnt； instead of the other thing。 It’s no use
your making any noise； for you won’t be found out by them as has
broken in； and you’ll only be hoarse when you come to the
speeches；—which is a pity。 What I say in respect to the speeches
always is； “Give it mouth。” That’s my maxim。 Give it mouth。 I’ve
heerd；’ said the hangman； pulling off his hat to take his
handkerchief from the crown and wipe his face； and then putting
it on again a little more on one side than before； ‘I’ve heerd a
eloquence on them boards—you know what boards I mean—and
have heerd a degree of mouth given to them speeches； that they
was as clear as a bell； and as good as a play。 There’s a pattern！ And
always； when a thing of this natur’s to come off； what I stand up
for； is； a proper frame of mind。 Let’s have a proper frame of mind；
and we can go through with it； creditable—pleasant—sociable。
Whatever you do （and I address myself in particular； to you in the
furthest）； never snivel。 I’d sooner by half； though I lose by it； see a
man tear his clothes a’ purpose to spile ’em before they come to
me； than find him snivelling。 It’s ten to one a better frame of mind；
every way！’
While the hangman addressed them to this effect； in the tone
and with the air of a pastor in familiar conversation with his flock；
the noise had been in some degree subdued； for the rioters were
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busy in conveying the prisoners to the Sessions House； which was
beyond the main walls of the prison； though connected with it； and
the crowd were busy too； in passing them from thence along the
street。 But when he had got thus far in his discourse； the sound of
voices in the yard showed plainly that the mob had returned and
were coming that way； and directly afterwards a violent crashing
at the grate below； gave note of their attack upon the cells （as they
were called） at last。
It was in vain the hangman ran from door to door； and covered
the grates； one after another； with his hat； in futile efforts to stifle
the cries of the four men within； it was in vain he dogged their
outstretched hands； and beat them with his stick； or menaced
them with new and lingering pains in the execution of his office；
the place resounded with their cries。 These； together with the
feeling that they were now the last men in the jail； so worked upon
and stimulated the besiegers； that in an incredibly short space of
time they forced the strong grate down below； which was formed
of iron rods two inches square； drove in the two other doors； as if
they had been but deal partitions； and stood at the end of the
gallery with only a bar or two between them and the cells。
‘Halloa！’ cried Hugh； who was the first to look into the dusky
passage： ‘Dennis before us！ Well done； old boy。 Be quick； and open
here； for we shall be suffocated in the smoke； going out。’
‘Go out at once； then；’ said Dennis。 ‘What do you want here？’
‘Want！’ echoed Hugh。 ‘The four men。’
‘Four devils！’ cried the hangman。 ‘Don’t you know they’re left
for death on Thursday？ Don’t you respect the law—the
constitootion—nothing？ Let the four men be。’
‘Is this a time for joking？’ cried Hugh。 ‘Do you hear ’em？ Pull
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away these bars that have got fixed between the door and the
ground； and let us in。’
‘Brother；’ said the hangman； in a low voice； as he stooped under
pretence of doing what Hugh desired； but only looked up in his
face； ‘can’t you leave these here four men to me； if I’ve the whim！
You do what you like； and have what you like of everything for
your share；—give me my share。 I want these four men left alone； I
tell you！’
‘Pull the bars down； or stand out of the way；’ was Hugh’s reply。
‘You can turn the crowd if you like； you know that well enough；
brother；’ said the hangman； slowly。 ‘What！ You will come in； will
you？’
‘Yes。’
‘You won’t let these men alone； and leave ’em to me？ You’ve no
respect for nothing—haven’t you？’ said the hangman； retreating to
the door by which he had entered； and regarding his companion
with a scowl。 ‘You will come in； will you； brother！’
‘I tell you； yes。 What the devil ails you？ Where are you going？’
‘No matter where I’m going；’ rejoined the hangman； looking in
again at the iron wicket； which he had nearly shut upon himself；
and held ajar。 ‘Remember where you’re coming。 That’s all！’
With that； he shook his likeness at Hugh； and giving him a grin；
compared with which his usual smile was amiable； disappeared；
and shut the door。
Hugh paused no longer； but goaded alike by the cries of the
convicts； and by the impatience of the crowd； war