The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

NEWGATE 157 tation on the margin of the paper. But he nevertheless feels that the matter is a delicate one, and must be managed with tact and judgment, so as to prevent the public mind from being outraged by a leniency which is not warranted by the circumstances. These are the prince’s own words; and he has accordingly hit upon a plan — ”’ ‘“ And that plan? ’’ exclaimed Dysart, impatiently. “ T will explain it to you,” said Ernestina, with a winning air of apparent sincerity, all the more deeply simulated in proportion to the ticklish nature of the ground upon which she was touching. ‘“‘ The prince’s idea is that things must be left to take their usual course until the very last mo- ment — ”’ | ‘““ Ah! I understand you,” interrupted Dysart, becoming ghastly pale. ‘“‘ He means to treat me like one of those common malefactors who are made to ascend even the very platform of the scaffold before the reprieve is produced.”’ ‘“ Do not be impatient, and do not give way to passionate feelings,’ said Ernestina, as she again secured the document about her person. ‘“‘ The prince has desired me to submit two alternatives to your consideration. ‘The first is that you receive a respite at once, and this to be followed by a commutation of the sentence to three years’ imprisonment in Newgate; the other is that you receive the respite on the scaffold, and this to be followed by a free pardon within a day or two. In either case appearances will be saved, and the public will have no room to suspect that any private influences or intrigues of an extraordinary nature have been brought to bear upon the mind of the prince regent.” “ Yes, I see the difficulty in which he is placed,’’ said Dysart, “and I was not altogether unprepared for some- thing of this sort. Well, the alternatives do not require a moment’s reflection: I accept the latter, as being the ‘shortest though the most painful ordeal. As for remaining cooped up in this infernal prison for three years, I’d sooner be hanged straight off at once. And, after all, there’s no great harm in mounting the steps of a gibbet, when one knows that the sheriff has got the reprieve in his pocket.” “This is the course I should have recommended, had you asked my advice,” said Ernestina; ‘‘ because in ten days all will be over, and you will be free again.”’ ‘And then we will return to the Continent, or go any- COnnIEClOoolks (EO)