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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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and looked at his visitor with an expression of face which seemed
to say； ‘This is an amusing fellow！ I’ll hear him out。’
‘You may have seen in the newspapers； sir；’ said Gabriel；
pointing to the one which lay by his side； ‘that I was a witness
against this man upon his trial some days since； and that it was not
his fault I was alive； and able to speak to what I knew。’
‘May have seen！’ cried Sir John。 ‘My dear Mr Varden； you are
quite a public character； and live in all men’s thoughts most
deservedly。 Nothing can exceed the interest with which I read
your testimony； and remembered that I had the pleasure of a
slight acquaintance with you。—…I hope we shall have your portrait
published？’
‘This morning； sir；’ said the locksmith； taking no notice of these
compliments； ‘early this morning； a message was brought to me
from Newgate； at this man’s request； desiring that I would go and
see him； for he had something particular to communicate。 I
needn’t tell you that he is no friend of mine； and that I had never
seen him； until the rioters beset my house。’
Sir John fanned himself gently with the newspaper； and
nodded。
‘I knew； however； from the general report；’ resumed Gabriel；
‘that the order for his execution to…morrow； went down to the
prison last night； and looking upon him as a dying man； I complied
with his request。’
‘You are quite a Christian； Mr Varden；’ said Sir John； ‘and in
that amiable capacity； you increase my desire that you should take
a chair。’
‘He said；’ continued Gabriel； looking steadily at the knight； ‘that
he had sent to me； because he had no friend or companion in the
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whole world （being the common hangman）； and because he
believed； from the way in which I had given my evidence； that I
was an honest man； and would act truly by him。 He said that；
being shunned by every one who knew his calling； even by people
of the lowest and most wretched grade； and finding； when he
joined the rioters； that the men he acted with had no suspicion of
it （which I believe is true enough； for a poor fool of an old ’prentice
of mine was one of them）； he had kept his own counsel； up to the
time of his being taken and put in jail。’
‘Very discreet of Mr Dennis；’ observed Sir John with a slight
yawn； though still with the utmost affability； ‘but—except for your
admirable and lucid manner of telling it； which is perfect—not
very interesting to me。’
‘When；’ pursued the locksmith； quite unabashed and wholly
regardless of these interruptions； ‘when he was taken to the jail；
he found that his fellow…prisoner； in the same room； was a young
man； Hugh by name； a leader in the riots； who had been betrayed
and given up by himself。 From something which fell from this
unhappy creature in the course of the angry words they had at
meeting； he discovered that his mother had suffered the death to
which they both are now condemned。—The time is very short； Sir
John。’
The knight laid down his paper fan； replaced his cup upon the
table at his side； and； saving for the smile that lurked about his
mouth； looked at the locksmith with as much steadiness as the
locksmith looked at him。
‘They have been in prison now； a month。 One conversation led
to many more； and the hangman soon found； from a comparison of
time； and place； and dates； that he had executed the sentence of
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the law upon this woman； himself。 She had been tempted by
want—as so many people are—into the easy crime of passing
forged notes。 She was young and handsome； and the traders who
employ men； women； and children in this traffic； looked upon her
as one who was well adapted for their business； and who would
probably go on without suspicion for a long time。 But they were
mistaken； for she was stopped in the commission of her very first
offence； and died for it。 She was of gipsy blood； Sir John—’
It might have been the effect of a passing cloud which obscured
the sun； and cast a shadow on his face； but the knight turned
deadly pale。 Still he met the locksmith’s eye； as before。
‘She was of gipsy blood； Sir John；’ repeated Gabriel； ‘and had a
high； free spirit。 This； and her good looks； and her lofty manner；
interested some gentlemen who were easily moved by dark eyes；
and efforts were made to save her。 They might have been
successful； if she would have given them any clue to her history。
But she never would； or did。 There was reason to suspect that she
would make an attempt upon her life。 A watch was set upon her
night and day； and from that time she never spoke again—’
Sir John stretched out his hand towards his cup。 The locksmith
going on； arrested it half…way。
—‘Until she had but a minute to live。 Then she broke silence；
and said； in a low firm voice which no one heard but this
executioner； for all other living creatures had retired and left her
to her fate； “If I had a dagger within these fingers and he was
within my reach； I would strike him dead before me； even now！”
The man asked “Who？” She said； “The father of her boy。”’
Sir John drew back his outstretched hand； and seeing that the
locksmith paused； signed to him with easy politeness and without
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any new appearance of emotion； to proceed。
‘It was the first word she had ever spoken； from which it could
be understood that she had any relative on earth。 “Was the child
alive？” he asked。 “Yes。” He asked her where it was； its name； and
whether she had any wish respecting it。 She had but one； she said。
It was that the boy might live and grow； in utter ignorance of his
father； so that no arts might teach him to be gentle and forgiving。
When he became a man； she trusted to the God of their tribe to
bring the father and the son together； and revenge her through
her child。 He asked her other questions； but she spoke no more。
Indeed； he says； she scarcely said this much； to him； but stood with
her face turned upwards to the sky； and never looked towards him
once。’
Sir John took a pinch of snuff； glanced approvingly at an
elegant little sketch； entitled ‘Nature；’ on the wall； and raising his
eyes to the locksmith’s face again； said； with an air of courtesy and
patronage； ‘You were observing； Mr Varden—’
‘That she never；’ returned the locksmith； who was not to be
diverted by any artifice from his firm manner； and his steady gaze；
‘that she never looked towards him once； Sir John； and so she
died； and he forgot her。 But； some years afterwards； a man was
sentenced to die the same death； who was a gipsy too； a sunburnt；
swarthy fellow； almost a wild man； and while he lay in prison；
under sentence； he； who had seen the hangman more than once
while he was free； cut an image of him on his stick； by way of
braving death； and showing those who attended on him； how little
he cared or thought about it。 He gave this stick into his hands at
Tyburn； and told him then； that the woman I have spoken of had
left her own people to join a fine gentleman； and that； being
Charles Di