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so sunken； and so shadowed by his heavy brows； that for aught the
hangman saw of them； he might have been stone blind。 He
remained smiling in silence for a short time longer； and then said；
slowly and distinctly：
‘You are indeed an earnest fellow； Dennis—a most valuable
fellow—the staunchest man I know of in our ranks。 But you must
calm yourself； you must be peaceful； lawful； mild as any lamb。 I am
sure you will be though。’
‘Ay； ay； we shall see； Muster Gashford； we shall see。 You won’t
have to complain of me；’ returned the other； shaking his head。
‘I am sure I shall not；’ said the secretary in the same mild tone；
and with the same emphasis。 ‘We shall have； we think； about next
month； or May； when this Papist relief bill comes before the house；
to convene our whole body for the first time。 My lord has thoughts
of our walking in procession through the streets—just as an
innocent display of strength—and accompanying our petition
down to the door of the House of Commons。’
‘The sooner the better；’ said Dennis； with another oath。
‘We shall have to draw up in divisions； our numbers being so
large； and； I believe I may venture to say；’ resumed Gashford；
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affecting not to hear the interruption； ‘though I have no direct
instructions to that effect—that Lord George has thought of you as
an excellent leader for one of these parties。 I have no doubt you
would be an admirable one。’
‘Try me；’ said the fellow； with an ugly wink。
‘You would be cool； I know；’ pursued the secretary； still smiling；
and still managing his eyes so that he could watch him closely； and
really not be seen in turn； ‘obedient to orders； and perfectly
temperate。 You would lead your party into no danger； I am
certain。’
‘I’d lead them； Muster Gashford；’—the hangman was beginning
in a reckless way； when Gashford started forward； laid his finger
on his lips； and feigned to write； just as the door was opened by
John Grueby。
‘Oh！’ said John； looking in； ‘here’s another Protestant。’
‘Some other room； John；’ cried Gashford in his blandest voice。
‘I am engaged just now。’
But John had brought this new visitor to the door； and he
walked in unbidden； as the words were uttered； giving to view the
form and features； rough attire； and reckless air； of Hugh。
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Chapter 38
he secretary put his hand before his eyes to shade them
from the glare of the lamp； and for some moments looked
T
at Hugh with a frowning brow； as if he remembered to
have seen him lately； but could not call to mind where； or on what
occasion。 His uncertainty was very brief； for before Hugh had
spoken a word； he said； as his countenance cleared up：
‘Ay； ay； I recollect。 It’s quite right； John； you needn’t wait。 Don’t
go； Dennis。’
‘Your servant； master；’ said Hugh； as Grueby disappeared。
‘Yours； friend；’ returned the secretary in his smoothest manner。
‘What brings you here？ We left nothing behind us； I hope？’
Hugh gave a short laugh； and thrusting his hand into his breast；
produced one of the handbills； soiled and dirty from lying out of
doors all night； which he laid upon the secretary’s desk after
flattening it upon his knee； and smoothing out the wrinkles with
his heavy palm。
‘Nothing but that； master。 It fell into good hands； you see。’
‘What is this！’ said Gashford； turning it over with an air of
perfectly natural surprise。 ‘Where did you get it from； my good
fellow； what does it mean？ I don’t understand this at all。’
A little disconcerted by this reception； Hugh looked from the
secretary to Dennis； who had risen and was standing at the table
too； observing the stranger by stealth； and seeming to derive the
utmost satisfaction from his manners and appearance。
Considering himself silently appealed to by this action； Mr Dennis
shook his head thrice； as if to say of Gashford； ‘No。 He don’t know
anything at all about it。 I know he don’t。 I’ll take my oath he don’t；’
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and hiding his profile from Hugh with one long end of his frowzy
neckerchief； nodded and chuckled behind this screen in extreme
approval of the secretary’s proceedings。
‘It tells the man that finds it； to come here； don’t it？’ asked
Hugh。 ‘I’m no scholar； myself； but I showed it to a friend； and he
said it did。’
‘It certainly does；’ said Gashford； opening his eyes to their
utmost width； ‘really this is the most remarkable circumstance I
have ever known。 How did you come by this piece of paper； my
good friend？’
‘Muster Gashford；’ wheezed the hangman under his breath；
‘agin’ all Newgate！’
Whether Hugh heard him； or saw by his manner that he was
being played upon； or perceived the secretary’s drift of himself； he
came in his blunt way to the point at once。
‘Here！’ he said； stretching out his hand and taking it back；
‘never mind the bill； or what it says； or what it don’t say。 You don’t
know anything about it； master；—no more do I；—no more does
he；’ glancing at Dennis。 ‘None of us know what it means； or where
it comes from： there’s an end of that。 Now I want to make one
against the Catholics； I’m a No…Popery man； and ready to be
sworn in。 That’s what I’ve come here for。’
‘Put him down on the roll； Muster Gashford；’ said Dennis
approvingly。 ‘That’s the way to go to work—right to the end at
once； and no palaver。’
‘What’s the use of shooting wide of the mark； eh； old boy！’ cried
Hugh。
‘My sentiments all over！’ rejoined the hangman。 ‘This is the sort
of chap for my division； Muster Gashford。 Down with him； sir。 Put
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him on the roll。 I’d stand godfather to him； if he was to be
christened in a bonfire； made of the ruins of the Bank of England。’
With these and other expressions of confidence of the like
flattering kind； Mr Dennis gave him a hearty slap on the back；
which Hugh was not slow to return。
‘No Popery； brother！’ cried the hangman。
‘No Property； brother！’ responded Hugh。
‘Popery； Popery；’ said the secretary with his usual mildness。
‘It’s all the same！’ cried Dennis。 ‘It’s all right。 Down with him；
Muster Gashford。 Down with everybody； down with everything！
Hurrah for the Protestant religion！ That’s the time of day； Muster
Gashford！’
The secretary regarded them both with a very favourable
expression of countenance； while they gave loose to these and
other demonstrations of their patriotic purpose； and was about to
make some remark aloud； when Dennis； stepping up to him； and
shading his mouth with his hand； said； in a hoarse whisper； as he
nudged him with his elbow：
‘Don’t split upon a constitutional officer’s profession； Muster
Gashford。 There are popular prejudices； you know； and he
mightn’t like it。 Wait till he comes to be more intimate with me。
He’s a fine…built chap； an’t he？’
‘A powerful fellow indeed！’
‘Did you ever； Muster Gashford；’ whispered Dennis； with a
horrible kind of admiration； such as that with which