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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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was pacing in a thoughtful manner up and down； thinking of
things that had happened long ago； when he heard a servant…man
at an upper window call to another on the opposite side of the
street； that the mob were setting fire to Newgate。
To Newgate！ where that man was！ His failing strength
returned； his energies came back with tenfold vigour； on the
instant。 If it were possible—if they should set the murderer free—
was he； after all he had undergone； to die with the suspicion of
having slain his own brother； dimly gathering about him—
He had no consciousness of going to the jail； but there he stood；
before it。 There was the crowd wedged and pressed together in a
dense； dark； moving mass； and there were the flames soaring up
into the air。 His head turned round and round； lights flashed
before his eyes； and he struggled hard with two men。
‘Nay； nay；’ said one。 ‘Be more yourself； my good sir。 We attract
attention here。 Come away。 What can you do among so many
men？’
‘The gentleman’s always for doing something；’ said the other；
forcing him along as he spoke。 ‘I like him for that。 I do like him for
that。’
They had by this time got him into a court； hard by the prison。
He looked from one to the other； and as he tried to release himself；
felt that he tottered on his feet。 He who had spoken first； was the
old gentleman whom he had seen at the Lord Mayor’s。 The other
was John Grueby； who had stood by him so manfully at
Westminster。
‘What does this mean？’ he asked them faintly。 ‘How came we
together？’
‘On the skirts of the crowd；’ returned the distiller； ‘but come
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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with us。 Pray come with us。 You seem to know my friend here？’
‘Surely；’ said Mr Haredale； looking in a kind of stupor at John。
‘He’ll tell you then；’ returned the old gentleman； ‘that I am a
man to be trusted。 He’s my servant。 He was lately （as you know； I
have no doubt） in Lord George Gordon’s service； but he left it； and
brought； in pure goodwill to me and others； who are marked by
the rioters； such intelligence as he had picked up； of their designs。’
—‘On one condition； please； sir；’ said John； touching his hat。 No
evidence against my lord—a misled man—a kind…hearted man； sir。
My lord never intended this。’
‘The condition will be observed； of course；’ rejoined the old
distiller。 ‘It’s a point of honour。 But come with us； sir； pray come
with us。’
John Grueby added no entreaties； but he adopted a different
kind of persuasion； by putting his arm through one of Mr
Haredale’s； while his master took the other； and leading him away
with all speed。
Sensible； from a strange lightness in his head； and a difficulty in
fixing his thoughts on anything； even to the extent of bearing his
companions in his mind for a minute together without looking at
them； that his brain was affected by the agitation and suffering
through which he had passed； and to which he was still a prey； Mr
Haredale let them lead him where they would。 As they went along；
he was conscious of having no command over what he said or
thought； and that he had a fear of going mad。
The distiller lived； as he had told him when they first met； on
Holborn Hill； where he had great storehouses and drove a large
trade。 They approached his house by a back entrance； lest they
should attract the notice of the crowd； and went into an upper
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room which faced towards the street； the windows； however； in
common with those of every other room in the house； were
boarded up inside； in order that； out of doors； all might appear
quite dark。
They laid him on a sofa in this chamber； perfectly insensible；
but John immediately fetching a surgeon； who took from him a
large quantity of blood； he gradually came to himself。 As he was；
for the time； too weak to walk； they had no difficulty in persuading
him to remain there all night； and got him to bed without loss of a
minute。 That done； they gave him cordial and some toast； and
presently a pretty strong composing…draught； under the influence
of which he soon fell into a lethargy； and； for a time； forgot his
troubles。
The vintner； who was a very hearty old fellow and a worthy
man； had no thoughts of going to bed himself； for he had received
several threatening warnings from the rioters； and had indeed
gone out that evening to try and gather from the conversation of
the mob whether his house was to be the next attacked。 He sat all
night in an easy…chair in the same room—dozing a little now and
then—and received from time to time the reports of John Grueby
and two or three other trustworthy persons in his employ； who
went out into the streets as scouts； and for whose entertainment
an ample allowance of good cheer （which the old vintner； despite
his anxiety； now and then attacked himself） was set forth in an
adjoining chamber。
These accounts were of a sufficiently alarming nature from the
first； but as the night wore on； they grew so much worse； and
involved such a fearful amount of riot and destruction； that in
comparison with these new tidings all the previous disturbances
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sunk to nothing。
The first intelligence that came； was of the taking of Newgate；
and the escape of all the prisoners； whose track； as they made up
Holborn and into the adjacent streets； was proclaimed to those
citizens who were shut up in their houses； by the rattling of their
chains； which formed a dismal concert； and was heard in every
direction； as though so many forges were at work。 The flames too；
shone so brightly through the vintner’s skylights； that the rooms
and staircases below were nearly as light as in broad day； while
the distant shouting of the mob seemed to shake the very walls
and ceilings。
At length they were heard approaching the house； and some
minutes of terrible anxiety ensued。 They came close up； and
stopped before it； but after giving three loud yells； went on。 And
although they returned several times that night； creating new
alarms each time； they did nothing there； having their hands full。
Shortly after they had gone away for the first time； one of the
scouts came running in with the news that they had stopped
before Lord Mansfield’s house in Bloomsbury Square。
Soon afterwards there came another； and another； and then the
first returned again； and so； by little and little； their tale was
this：—That the mob gathering round Lord Mansfield’s house； had
called on those within to open the door； and receiving no reply （for
Lord and Lady Mansfield were at that moment escaping by the
backway）； forced an entrance according to their usual custom。
That they then began to demolish the house with great fury； and
setting fire to it in several parts； involved in a common ruin the
whole of the costly furniture； the plate and jewels； a beautiful
gallery of pictures； the rarest co