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easily？ You bear it easily enough。 Oh！ never tell me；’ he cried； as
the other would have spoken； ‘for all your sad look and your
solemn air； you think little enough of it！ They say you’re the best
maker of lobster salads in London。 Ha； ha！ I’ve heard that； you see；
before now。 Is it a good one； this morning—is your hand in？ How
does the breakfast look？ I hope there’s enough； and to spare； for
all this hungry company that’ll sit down to it； when the sight’s
over。’
‘I fear；’ observed the clergyman； shaking his head； ‘that you are
incorrigible。’
‘You’re right。 I am；’ rejoined Hugh sternly。 ‘Be no hypocrite；
master！ You make a merry…making of this； every month； let me be
merry； too。 If you want a frightened fellow there’s one that’ll suit
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you。 Try your hand upon him。’
He pointed； as he spoke； to Dennis； who； with his legs trailing
on the ground； was held between two men； and who trembled so；
that all his joints and limbs seemed racked by spasms。 Turning
from this wretched spectacle； he called to Barnaby； who stood
apart。
‘What cheer； Barnaby？ Don’t be downcast； lad。 Leave that to
him。’
‘Bless you；’ cried Barnaby； stepping lightly towards him； ‘I’m
not frightened； Hugh。 I’m quite happy。 I wouldn’t desire to live
now； if they’d let me。 Look at me！ Am I afraid to die？ Will they see
ME tremble？’
Hugh gazed for a moment at his face； on which there was a
strange； unearthly smile； and at his eye； which sparkled brightly；
and interposing between him and the Ordinary； gruffly whispered
to the latter：
‘I wouldn’t say much to him； master； if I was you。 He may spoil
your appetite for breakfast； though you are used to it。’
He was the only one of the three who had washed or trimmed
himself that morning。 Neither of the others had done so； since
their doom was pronounced。 He still wore the broken peacock’s
feathers in his hat； and all his usual scraps of finery were carefully
disposed about his person。 His kindling eye； his firm step； his
proud and resolute bearing； might have graced some lofty act of
heroism； some voluntary sacrifice； born of a noble cause and pure
enthusiasm； rather than that felon’s death。
But all these things increased his guilt。 They were mere
assumptions。 The law had declared it so； and so it must be。 The
good minister had been greatly shocked； not a quarter of an hour
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before； at his parting with Grip。 For one in his condition； to fondle
a bird！—The yard was filled with people； bluff civic functionaries；
officers of justice； soldiers； the curious in such matters； and guests
who had been bidden as to a wedding。 Hugh looked about him；
nodded gloomily to some person in authority； who indicated with
his hand in what direction he was to proceed； and clapping
Barnaby on the shoulder； passed out with the gait of a lion。
They entered a large room； so near to the scaffold that the
voices of those who stood about it； could be plainly heard： some
beseeching the javelin…men to take them out of the crowd： others
crying to those behind； to stand back； for they were pressed to
death； and suffocating for want of air。
In the middle of this chamber； two smiths； with hammers； stood
beside an anvil。 Hugh walked straight up to them； and set his foot
upon it with a sound as though it had been struck by a heavy
weapon。 Then； with folded arms； he stood to have his irons
knocked off： scowling haughtily round； as those who were present
eyed him narrowly and whispered to each other。
It took so much time to drag Dennis in； that this ceremony was
over with Hugh； and nearly over with Barnaby； before he
appeared。 He no sooner came into the place he knew so well；
however； and among faces with which he was so familiar； than he
recovered strength and sense enough to clasp his hands and make
a last appeal。
‘Gentlemen； good gentlemen；’ cried the abject creature；
grovelling down upon his knees； and actually prostrating himself
upon the stone floor： ‘Governor； dear governor—honourable
sheriffs—worthy gentlemen—have mercy upon a wretched man
that has served His Majesty； and the Law； and Parliament； for so
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many years； and don’t—don’t let me die—because of a mistake。’
‘Dennis；’ said the governor of the jail； ‘you know what the
course is； and that the order came with the rest。 You know that we
could do nothing； even if we would。’
‘All I ask； sir；—all I want and beg； is time； to make it sure；’ cried
the trembling wretch； looking wildly round for sympathy。 ‘The
King and Government can’t know it’s me； I’m sure they can’t
know it’s me； or they never would bring me to this dreadful
slaughterhouse。 They know my name； but they don’t know it’s the
same man。 Stop my execution—for charity’s sake stop my
execution； gentlemen—till they can be told that I’ve been
hangman here； nigh thirty year。 Will no one go and tell them？’ he
implored； clenching his hands and glaring round； and round； and
round again—‘will no charitable person go and tell them！’
‘Mr Akerman；’ said a gentleman who stood by； after a moment’s
pause； ‘since it may possibly produce in this unhappy man a better
frame of mind； even at this last minute； let me assure him that he
was well known to have been the hangman； when his sentence
was considered。’
‘—But perhaps they think on that account that the
punishment’s not so great；’ cried the criminal； shuffling towards
this speaker on his knees； and holding