The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

THE GIBBET — 175 debtor’s door, in order to keep back the pressure of the crowds. Despite the noise of their hammers, the criminal slept on. At six o’clock the platform of the gallows was wheeled out of the press-yard, and stationed on the verge of the pavement at the debtor’s door. The carpenters then pro- ceeded to fix the ladder and erect the huge beams of the gibbet, all their operations being viewed with intense curi- osity and deep interest by the multitude that was swelling in bulk and volume every moment. From an early hour a black fellow, roughly dressed and carrying a huge club in his hand, had been lurking near the debtor’s door; and when the barrier was put up, he elbowed his way to a place as near that door as possible. There he remained fixed like a statue, leaning with his arms upon the barrier, and neither addressing a word to a soul nor appearing to pay any attention to the discourse that was going on in his hearing. | It was seven o’clock in the morning before Dysart awoke from his slumber, and he would perhaps have slept on, had not the entrance of the chaplain disturbed him. He in- quired the hour, and on being informed, was astonished to hear that it was so late. ‘“ You have slept well? ”’ said the chaplain. ‘““ Never better in my life,’’ responded the criminal, gaily. ‘“T will now get up.” ‘‘ And in ten minutes I will return,” said the chaplain. The reverend gentleman then quitted the cell, and Dysart proceeded to wash and dress himself with as much unconcern as he had displayed when eating his supper overnight. On the return of the chaplain, he asked if the sheriff had yet arrived, but the response was in the negative. The ordinary then hinted that it would be proper for them to join in prayer, but Dysart exclaimed, ‘“‘ You don’t think, sir, that it is at all necessary just now, do you? ”’ ‘ Prayer is always seasonable and of much avail,’’ was the chaplain’s response. ‘ But you feel convinced that I shall be reprieved? ”’ said Dysart, with some little manifestation of uneasiness, or rather, perhaps, of impatience. “The governor has assured me that such will be the case,”’ answered the ordinary, ‘“‘ and I believe him to be far too CONNIE LOO (A) <S (CO)