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‘Where are my friends？’
‘Your relations then；’ said Dennis。
‘Ha ha ha！’ laughed Hugh； waving one arm above his head。 ‘He
talks of friends to me—talks of relations to a man whose mother
died the death in store for her son； and left him； a hungry brat；
without a face he knew in all the world！ He talks of this to me！’
‘Brother；’ cried the hangman； whose features underwent a
sudden change； ‘you don’t mean to say—’
‘I mean to say；’ Hugh interposed； ‘that they hung her up at
Tyburn。 What was good enough for her； is good enough for me。
Let them do the like by me as soon as they please—the sooner the
better。 Say no more to me。 I’m going to sleep。’
‘But I want to speak to you； I want to hear more about that；’
said Dennis； changing colour。
‘If you’re a wise man；’ growled Hugh； raising his head to look at
him with a frown； ‘you’ll hold your tongue。 I tell you I’m going to
sleep。’
Dennis venturing to say something more in spite of this caution；
the desperate fellow struck at him with all his force； and missing
him； lay down again with many muttered oaths and imprecations；
and turned his face towards the wall。 After two or three ineffectual
twitches at his dress； which he was hardy enough to venture upon；
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notwithstanding his dangerous humour； Mr Dennis； who burnt；
for reasons of his own； to pursue the conversation； had no
alternative but to sit as patiently as he could： waiting his further
pleasure。
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Chapter 75
month has elapsed；—and we stand in the bedchamber of
ASir John Chester。 Through the half…opened window； the
Temple Garden looks green and pleasant； the placid river；
gay with boat and barge； and dimpled with the plash of many an
oar； sparkles in the distance； the sky is blue and clear； and the
summer air steals gently in； filling the room with perfume。 The
very town； the smoky town； is radiant。 High roofs and steeple…tops；
wont to look black and sullen； smile a cheerful grey； every old
gilded vane； and ball； and cross； glitters anew in the bright
morning sun； and； high among them all； St Paul’s towers up；
showing its lofty crest in burnished gold。
Sir John was breakfasting in bed。 His chocolate and toast stood
upon a little table at his elbow； books and newspapers lay ready to
his hand； upon the coverlet； and； sometimes pausing to glance
with an air of tranquil satisfaction round the well…ordered room；
and sometimes to gaze indolently at the summer sky； he ate； and
drank； and read the news luxuriously。
The cheerful influence of the morning seemed to have some
effect； even upon his equable temper。 His manner was unusually
gay； his smile more placid and agreeable than usual； his voice
more clear and pleasant。 He laid down the newspaper he had been
reading； leaned back upon his pillow with the air of one who
resigned himself to a train of charming recollections； and after a
pause； soliloquised as follows：
‘And my friend the centaur； goes the way of his mamma！ I am
not surprised。 And his mysterious friend Mr Dennis； likewise！ I am
not surprised。 And my old postman； the exceedingly free…and…easy
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young madman of Chigwell！ I am quite rejoiced。 It’s the very best
thing that could possibly happen to him。’
After delivering himself of these remarks； he fell again into his
smiling train of reflection； from which he roused himself at length
to finish his chocolate； which was getting cold； and ring the bell for
more。
The new supply arriving； he took the cup from his servant’s
hand； and saying； with a charming affability； ‘I am obliged to you；
Peak；’ dismissed him。
‘It is a remarkable circumstance；’ he mused； dallying lazily with
the teaspoon； ‘that my friend the madman should have been
within an ace of escaping； on his trial； and it was a good stroke of
chance （or； as the world would say； a providential occurrence） that
the brother of my Lord Mayor should have been in court； with
other country justices； into whose very dense heads curiosity had
penetrated。 For though the brother of my Lord Mayor was
decidedly wrong； and established his near relationship to that
amusing person beyond all doubt； in stating that my friend was
sane； and had； to his knowledge； wandered about the country with
a vagabond parent； avowing revolutionary and rebellious
sentiments； I am not the less obliged to him for volunteering that
evidence。 These insane creatures make such very odd and
embarrassing remarks； that they really ought to be hanged for the
comfort of society。’
The country justice had indeed turned the wavering scale
against poor Barnaby； and solved the doubt that trembled in his
favour。 Grip little thought how much he had to answer for。
‘They will be a singular party；’ said Sir John； leaning his head
upon his hand； and sipping his chocolate； ‘a very curious party。
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The hangman himself； the centaur； and the madman。 The centaur
would make a very handsome preparation in Surgeons’ Hall； and
would benefit science extremely。 I hope they have taken care to
bespeak him。—Peak； I am not at home； of course； to anybody but
the hairdresser。’
This reminder to his servant was called forth by a knock at the
door； which the man hastened to open。 After a prolonged murmur
of question and answer； he returned； and as he cautiously closed
the room…door be