The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 196: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

178 THE COURT OF LONDON maining as composed as before, afforded not the least indica- tion of the nature of the official document which he had received, while etiquette forbade even the under-sheriffs to venture an inquiry upon the point. ‘‘ T understood you on Saturday,” said the sheriff, address- ing himself to the governor, ‘‘ that there was no person then engaged to officiate as the functionary of the law.” ‘ And such is still the case, sir,’ replied the governor. ‘“ T believed that some criminal within the walls would have accepted the post of public executioner, but only a few minutes before your arrival the turnkeys assured me that not a single soul would undertake the office.”’ ‘Then a proclamation must be made to the multitude outside the prison,” said the sheriff. ‘‘ I will proceed to fulfil that duty at once.” Accordingly, followed by the under-sheriffs and the governor, the high civic functionary repaired to the debtor’s door, and ascending the steps of the gallows, he mounted the platform. A dead silence fell upon the congregated mass of people, the murmuring of their myriad voices suddenly ceasing, and the oscillation of the living waves subsiding into a calm. Every eye was fixed with an expression of curiosity and suspense upon the sheriff, as he proceeded to make the proclamation, which was to the effect that an individual was required to undertake the office of public executioner, and that should such volunteering individual have in any way rendered himself amenable or obnoxious to the law, he (the sheriff) was empowered to offer him a free pardon for his offences. Scarcely were the words spoken, when a loud voice ex- claimed, ‘‘ I accept the proposition! ”’ and the savage-looking black fellow already mentioned jumped upon the barrier and scrambled up to the platform of the gallows. ““ Hooray! ”’ shouted the multitudes, which for a moment had feared that they were to be balked of the spectacle they had crowded thither to behold. Nor less were the aristocratic exquisites at the two windows opposite rejoiced to find that the drama would proceed with- out the interruption that had for an instant appeared to threaten its tragic development. The sheriff descended from the scaffold and reéntered the prison, followed by the under-sheriffs, the governor, GomiGcdooks (eo)