cells； which were a series of small； strong； dismal rooms； opening
on a low gallery； guarded； at the end at which he entered； by a
strong iron wicket； and at its opposite extremity by two doors and
a thick grate。 Having double locked the wicket； and assured
himself that the other entrances were well secured； he sat down on
a bench in the gallery； and sucked the head of his stick with the
utmost complacency； tranquillity； and contentment。
It would have been strange enough； a man’s enjoying himself in
this quiet manner； while the prison was burning； and such a
tumult was cleaving the air； though he had been outside the walls。
But here； in the very heart of the building； and moreover with the
prayers and cries of the four men under sentence sounding in his
ears； and their hands； stretched our through the gratings in their
cell…doors； clasped in frantic entreaty before his very eyes； it was
particularly remarkable。 Indeed； Mr Dennis appeared to think it
an uncommon circumstance； and to banter himself upon it； for he
thrust his hat on one side as some men do when they are in a
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waggish humour； sucked the head of his stick with a higher relish；
and smiled as though he would say； ‘Dennis； you’re a rum dog；
you’re a queer fellow； you’re capital company； Dennis； and quite a
character！’
He sat in this way for some minutes； while the four men in the
cells； who were certain that somebody had entered the gallery； but
could not see who； gave vent to such piteous entreaties as
wretches in their miserable condition may be supposed to have
been inspired with： urging； whoever it was； to set them at liberty；
for the love of Heaven； and protesting； with great fervour； and
truly enough； perhaps； for the time； that if they escaped； they
would amend their ways； and would never； never； never again do
wrong before God or man； but would lead penitent and sober lives；
and sorrowfully repent the crimes they had committed。 The
terrible energy with which they spoke； would have moved any
person； no matter how good or just （if any good or just person
could have strayed into that sad place that night）； to have set them
at liberty： and； while he would have left any other punishment to
its free course； to have saved them from this last dreadful and
repulsive penalty； which never turned a man inclined to evil； and
has hardened thousands who were half inclined to good。
Mr Dennis； who had been bred and nurtured in the good old
school； and had administered the good old laws on the good old
plan； always once and sometimes twice every six weeks； for a long
time； bore these appeals with a deal of philosophy。 Being at last；
however； rather disturbed in his pleasant reflection by their
repetition； he rapped at one of the doors with his stick； and cried：
‘Hold your noise there； will you？’
At this they all cried together that they were to be hanged on
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the next day but one； and again implored his aid。
‘Aid！ For what！’ said Mr Dennis； playfully rapping the knuckles
of the hand nearest him。
‘To save us！’ they cried。
‘Oh； certainly；’ said Mr Dennis； winking at the wall in the
absence of any friend with whom he could humour the joke。 ‘And
so you’re to be worked off； are you； brothers？’
‘Unless we are released to…night；’ one of them cried； ‘we are
dead men！’
‘I tell you what it is；’ said the hangman； gravely； ‘I’m afraid； my
friend； that you’re not in that ’ere state of mind that’s suitable to
your condition； then； you’re not a…going to be released： don’t think
it—Will you leave off that ’ere indecent row？ I wonder you an’t
ashamed of yourselves； I do。’
He followed up this reproof by rapping every set of knuckles
one after the other； and having done so； resumed his seat again
with a cheerful countenance。
‘You’ve had law；’ he said； crossing his legs and elevating his
eyebrows： ‘laws have been made a’ purpose for you； a wery
handsome prison’s been made a’ purpose for you； a parson’s kept
a purpose for you； a constitootional officer’s appointed a’ purpose
for you； carts is maintained a’ purpose for you—and yet you’re not
contented！—Will you hold that noise； you sir in the furthest？’
A groan was the only answer。
‘So well as I can make out；’ said Mr Dennis； in a tone of mingled
badinage and remonstrance； ‘there’s not a man among you。 I begin
to think I’m on the opposite side； and among the ladies； though for
the matter of that； I’ve seen a many ladies face it out； in a manner
that did honour to the sex。—You in number two； don’t grind them
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teeth of yours。 Worse manners；’ said the hangman； rapping at the
door with his stick； ‘I never see in this place afore。 I’m ashamed of
you。 You’re a disgrace to the Bailey。’
After pausing for a moment to hear if anything could be
pleaded in justification； Mr Dennis resumed in a sort of coaxing
tone：
‘Now look’ee here； you four。 I’m come here to take care of you；
and see that you an’t burnt； instead of the other thing。 It’s no use
your making any noise； for you won’t be found out by them as has
broken in； and you’ll only be hoarse when you come to the
speeches；—which is a pity。 What I say in respect to the speeches
always is； “Give it mouth。” That’s my maxim。 Give it mouth。 I’ve
heerd；’ said the hangman； pulling off his hat to take his
handkerchief from the crown and wipe his face； and then putting
it on again a little more on one side than before； ‘I’ve heerd a
eloquence on them boards—you know what boards I mean—and
have heerd a degree of mouth given to them speeches； that they
was as clear as a bell； and as good as a play。 There’s a pattern！ And
always； when a thing of this natur’s to come off； what I stand up
for； is； a proper frame of mind。 Let’s have a proper frame of mind；
and we can go through with it； creditable—pleasant—sociable。
Whatever you do （and I address myself in particular； to you in the
furthest）； never snivel。 I’d sooner by half； though I lose by it； see a
man tear his clothes a’ purpose to spile ’em before they come to
me； than find him snivelling。 It’s ten to one a better frame of mind；
every way！’
While the hangman addressed them to this effect； in the tone
and with the air of a pastor in familiar conversation with his flock；
the noise had been in some degree subdued； for the rioters were
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busy in conveying the prisoners to the Sessions House； which was
beyond the main walls of the prison； though connected with it； and
the crowd were busy too； in passing them from thence along the
street。 But when he had got thus far in his discourse； the sound of
voices in the yard showed plainly that the mob had returned and
were coming that way； and directly afterwards a violent crashing
at the grate below； gave note of their attack upon the cells （as they
were called） at last。
It was in vain the hangman ran from door to door； and covered
the grates； one after another； with his hat； in futile efforts to stifle
the cries of the four men within； it was in vain he dogged their
outstretched hands； and beat them with his stick； or menaced
them with new and lingering pains in the execution of his office；
the place resounded with their cries。 These； together with the
feeling that they were now the last men in the jail； so worked upon
and stimulated the besiegers； that in an incredibly short space of
time they forced the strong grate down below； which was formed
of iron rods two inches square； drove in the two other doors； as if
they had been but deal partitions； and stood at the end of the
gallery with only a bar or two between them and the cells。
‘Halloa！’ cried Hugh； who was the first to look into the dusky
passage： ‘Dennis before us！ Well done； old boy。 Be quick； and open
here； for we shall be suffocated in the smoke； going out。’
‘Go out at once； then；’ said Dennis。 ‘What do you want here？’
‘Want！’ echoed Hugh。 ‘The four men。’
‘Four devils！’ cried the hangman。 ‘Don’t you know they’re left
for death on Thursday？