The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

THE GIBBET 177 come? Has he opened the packet? Does it contain the reprieve? ”’ ‘It cannot possibly be anything else,” returned the gov- ernor. ‘ The sheriff will not be here till a quarter to eight, nor will he open the packet in my presence. I dare not even ask him what it contains, but I have not the slightest — no, not the slightest doubt — ”’ “ What o’clock is it now?’’ demanded the criminal, hurriedly. : “ Half-past seven. Will you take some breakfast? In- deed, you must appear as if you anticipated the very worst,” said the governor, with marked emphasis. “Since I have nothing to apprehend, I can assume an air which shall pass for firmness,’’ replied Dysart. ‘“ Yes, let me have some breakfast; it will warm me.”’ Leaving the interior of the prison for a few moments, we will again glance to the aspect of the scene outside. The morning was dull and gloomy, and soon after the break of day, a fine mizzling rain had begun to fall. The crowd was immense. To the farther extremity of the Old Bailey in the one direction, and to the very verge of Smith- field market on the other, it was a complete ocean of human faces. Men and women, — numbers of the latter with young children in their arms, — boys and girls, even of a tender age, all were packed as densely as the aggregation of such a mass of life could possibly become. Every window and housetop commanding a view of the gaol’s front and the looming gallows had been put into requisition by the anxious spectators. Precisely opposite the gibbet, a first-floor apartment was tenanted for the nonce by the aristocrats who had passed the night at the Saracen’s. Head; and having well breakfasted off devilled kidneys, coffee, and toast, these worthies found themselves in an excellent humour to enjoy the drama about to be enacted. At a quarter to eight one of the sheriffs, the two under- sheriffs, and a couple of aldermen arrived at the gaol. They were immediately ushered into the governor’s drawing-room, and the sealed packet from the Home Office was delivered to the sheriff. He at once retired into a private room to open it, and having perused the contents, which were laconic enough, he carefully consigned the despatch to his pocket. On returning to the drawing-room, his countenance, re- CONNIE OOO a ‘S (CO)