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against poor Barnaby； and solved the doubt that trembled in his
favour。 Grip little thought how much he had to answer for。
‘They will be a singular party；’ said Sir John； leaning his head
upon his hand； and sipping his chocolate； ‘a very curious party。
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The hangman himself； the centaur； and the madman。 The centaur
would make a very handsome preparation in Surgeons’ Hall； and
would benefit science extremely。 I hope they have taken care to
bespeak him。—Peak； I am not at home； of course； to anybody but
the hairdresser。’
This reminder to his servant was called forth by a knock at the
door； which the man hastened to open。 After a prolonged murmur
of question and answer； he returned； and as he cautiously closed
the room…door behind him； a man was heard to cough in the
passage。
‘Now； it is of no use； Peak；’ said Sir John； raising his hand in
deprecation of his delivering any message； ‘I am not at home。 I
cannot possibly hear you。 I told you I was not at home； and my
word is sacred。 Will you never do as you are desired？’
Having nothing to oppose to this reproof； the man was about to
withdraw； when the visitor who had given occasion to it； probably
rendered impatient by delay； knocked with his knuckles at the
chamber…door； and called out that he had urgent business with Sir
John Chester； which admitted of no delay。
‘Let him in；’ said Sir John。 ‘My good fellow；’ he added； when the
door was opened； ‘how come you to intrude yourself in this
extraordinary manner upon the privacy of a gentleman？ How can
you be so wholly destitute of self…respect as to be guilty of such
remarkable ill…breeding？’
‘My business； Sir John； is not of a common kind； I do assure
you；’ returned the person he addressed。 ‘If I have taken any
uncommon course to get admission to you； I hope I shall be
pardoned on that account。’
‘Well！ we shall see； we shall see；’ returned Sir John； whose face
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cleared up when he saw who it was； and whose prepossessing
smile was now restored。 ‘I am sure we have met before；’ he added
in his winning tone； ‘but really I forget your name？’
‘My name is Gabriel Varden； sir。’
‘Varden； of course； Varden；’ returned Sir John； tapping his
forehead。 ‘Dear me； how very defective my memory becomes！
Varden to be sure—Mr Varden the locksmith。 You have a
charming wife； Mr Varden； and a most beautiful daughter。 They
are well？’
Gabriel thanked him； and said they were。
‘I rejoice to hear it；’ said Sir John。 ‘Commend me to them when
you return； and say that I wished I were fortunate enough to
convey； myself； the salute which I entrust you to deliver。 And
what；’ he asked very sweetly； after a moment’s pause； ‘can I do for
you？ You may command me freely。’
‘I thank you； Sir John；’ said Gabriel； with some pride in his
manner； ‘but I have come to ask no favour of you； though I come
on business。—Private；’ he added； with a glance at the man who
stood looking on； ‘and very pressing business。’
‘I cannot say you are the more welcome for being independent；
and having nothing to ask of me；’ returned Sir John； graciously；
‘for I should have been happy to render you a service； still； you are
welcome on any terms。 Oblige me with some more chocolate；
Peak； and don’t wait。’
The man retired； and left them alone。
‘Sir John；’ said Gabriel； ‘I am a working…man； and have been so；
all my life。 If I don’t prepare you enough for what I have to tell； if I
come to the point too abruptly； and give you a shock； which a
gentleman could have spared you； or at all events lessened very
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much； I hope you will give me credit for meaning well。 I wish to be
careful and considerate； and I trust that in a straightforward
person like me； you’ll take the will for the deed。’
‘Mr Varden；’ returned the other； perfectly composed under this
exordium； ‘I beg you’ll take a chair。 Chocolate； perhaps； you don’t
relish？ Well！ it IS an acquired taste； no doubt。’
‘Sir John；’ said Gabriel； who had acknowledged with a bow the
invitation to be seated； but had not availed himself of it。 ‘Sir
John’—he dropped his voice and drew nearer to the bed—‘I am
just now come from Newgate—’
‘Good Gad！’ cried Sir John； hastily sitting up in bed； ‘from
Newgate； Mr Varden！ How could you be so very imprudent as to
come from Newgate！ Newgate； where there are jail…fevers； and
ragged people； and bare…footed men and women； and a thousand
horrors！ Peak； bring the camphor； quick！ Heaven and earth； Mr
Varden； my dear； good soul； how could you come from Newgate？’
Gabriel returned no answer； but looked on in silence while
Peak （who had entered with the hot chocolate） ran to a drawer；
and returning with a bottle； sprinkled his master’s dressing…gown
and the bedding； and besides moistening the locksmith himself；
plentifully； described a circle round about him on the carpet。
When he had done this； he again retired； and Sir John； reclining in
an easy attitude upon his pillow； once more turned a smiling face
towards his visitor。
‘You will forgive me； Mr Varden； I am sure； for being at first a
little sensitive both on your account and my own。 I confess I was
startled； notwithstanding your delicate exordium。 Might I ask you
to do me the favour not to approach any nearer？—You have really
come from Newgate！’
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The locksmith inclined his head。
‘In…deed！ And now； Mr Varden； all exaggeration and
embellishment apart；’ said Sir John Chester； confidentially； as he
sipped his chocolate； ‘what kind of place is Newgate？’
‘A strange place； Sir John；’ returned the locksmith； ‘of a sad
and doleful kind。 A strange place； where many strange things are
heard and seen； but few more strange than that I come to tell you
of。 The case is urgent。 I am sent here。’
‘Not—no； no—not from the jail？’
‘Yes； Sir John； from the jail。’
‘And my good； credulous； open…hearted friend；’ said Sir John；
setting down his cup； and laughing；—‘by whom？’
‘By a man called Dennis—for many years the hangman； and to…
morrow morning the hanged；’ returned the locksmith。
Sir John had expected—had been quite certain from the first—
that he would say he had come from Hugh； and was prepared to
meet him on that point。 But this answer occasioned him a degree
of astonishment； which； for the moment； he could not； with all his
command of feature； prevent his face from expressing。 He quickly
subdued it； however； and said in the same light tone：
‘And what does the gentleman require of me？ My memory may
be at fault again； but I don’t recollect that I ever had the pleasure
of an introduction to him； or that I ever numbered him among my
personal friends； I do assure you； Mr Varden。’
‘Sir John；’ returned the locksmith； gravely； ‘I will tell you； as
nearly as I can； in the words he used to me； what he desires that
you should know； and what you ought to know without a
moment’s loss of time。’
Sir John Chester settled himself in a position of greater repose；
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