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be！’ And here he sighed； and warmed his hands； and shook his
head as men do when their hearts are full； and heaved another
sigh； and warmed his hands again。
‘Why； Gashford？’ said Lord George； who was lying broad
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awake； upon his side； and had been staring at him from his
entrance。
‘My—my lord；’ said Gashford； starting and looking round as
though in great surprise。 ‘I have disturbed you！’
‘I have not been sleeping。’
‘Not sleeping！’ he repeated； with assumed confusion。 ‘What can
I say for having in your presence given utterance to thoughts—but
they were sincere—they were sincere！’ exclaimed the secretary；
drawing his sleeve in a hasty way across his eyes； ‘and why should
I regret your having heard them？’
‘Gashford；’ said the poor lord； stretching out his hand with
manifest emotion。 ‘Do not regret it。 You love me well； I know—too
well。 I don’t deserve such homage。’
Gashford made no reply； but grasped the hand and pressed it to
his lips。 Then rising； and taking from the trunk a little desk； he
placed it on a table near the fire； unlocked it with a key he carried
in his pocket； sat down before it； took out a pen； and； before
dipping it in the inkstand； sucked it—to compose the fashion of his
mouth perhaps； on which a smile was hovering yet。
‘How do our numbers stand since last enrolling…night？’
inquired Lord George。 ‘Are we really forty thousand strong； or do
we still speak in round numbers when we take the Association at
that amount？’
‘Our total now exceeds that number by a score and three；’
Gashford replied； casting his eyes upon his papers。
‘The funds？’
‘Not very improving； but there is some manna in the
wilderness； my lord。 Hem！ On Friday night the widows’ mites
dropped in。 “Forty scavengers； three and fourpence。 An aged pew…
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opener of St Martin’s parish； sixpence。 A bell…ringer of the
established church； sixpence。 A Protestant infant； newly born； one
halfpenny。 The United Link Boys； three shillings—one bad。 The
anti…popish prisoners in Newgate； five and fourpence。 A friend in
Bedlam； half…a…crown。 Dennis the hangman； one shilling。”’
‘That Dennis；’ said his lordship； ‘is an earnest man。 I marked
him in the crowd in Welbeck Street； last Friday。’
‘A good man；’ rejoined the secretary； ‘a staunch； sincere； and
truly zealous man。’
‘He should be encouraged；’ said Lord George。 ‘Make a note of
Dennis。 I’ll talk with him。’
Gashford obeyed； and went on reading from his list：
‘“The Friends of Reason； half…a…guinea。 The Friends of Liberty；
half…a…guinea。 The Friends of Peace； half…a…guinea。 The Friends of
Charity； half…a…guinea。 The Friends of Mercy； half…a…guinea。 The
Associated Rememberers of Bloody Mary； half…a…guinea。 The
United Bulldogs； half…a…guinea。”’
‘The United Bulldogs；’ said Lord George； biting his nails most
horribly； ‘are a new society； are they not？’
‘Formerly the ’Prentice Knights； my lord。 The indentures of the
old members expiring by degrees； they changed their name； it
seems； though they still have ’prentices among them； as well as
workmen。’
‘What is their president’s name？’ inquired Lord George。
‘President；’ said Gashford； reading； ‘Mr Simon Tappertit。’
‘I remember him。 The little man； who sometimes brings an
elderly sister to our meetings； and sometimes another female too；
who is conscientious； I have no doubt； but not well…favoured？’
‘The very same； my lord。’
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‘Tappertit is an earnest man；’ said Lord George； thoughtfully。
‘Eh； Gashford？’
‘One of the foremost among them all； my lord。 He snuffs the
battle from afar； like the war…horse。 He throws his hat up in the
street as if he were inspired； and makes most stirring speeches
from the shoulders of his friends。’
‘Make a note of Tappertit；’ said Lord George Gordon。 ‘We may
advance him to a place of trust。’
‘That；’ rejoined the secretary； doing as he was told； ‘is all—
except Mrs Varden’s box （fourteenth time of opening）； seven
shillings and sixpence in silver and copper； and half…a…guinea in
gold； and Miggs （being the saving of a quarter’s wages）； one…and…
threepence。’
‘Miggs；’ said Lord George。 ‘Is that a man？’
‘The name is entered on the list as a woman；’ replied the
secretary。 ‘I think she is the tall spare female of whom you spoke
just now； my lord； as not being well…favoured； who sometimes
comes to hear the speeches—along with Tappertit and Mrs
Varden。’
‘Mrs Varden is the elderly lady then； is she？’
The secretary nodded； and rubbed the bridge of his nose with
the feather of his pen。
‘She is a zealous sister；’ said Lord George。 ‘Her collection goes
on prosperously； and is pursued with fervour。 Has her husband
joined？’
‘A malignant；’ returned the secretary； folding up his papers。
‘Unworthy such a wife。 He remains in outer darkness and steadily
refuses。’
‘The consequences be upon his own head！—Gashford！’
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‘My lord！’
‘You don’t think；’ he turned restlessly in his bed as he spoke；
‘these people will desert me； when the hour arrives？ I have spoken
boldly for them； ventured much； suppressed nothing。 They’ll not
fall off； will they？’
‘No fear of that； my lord；’ said Gashford； with