Access Online - The European Library

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300 BLACK SHEEP.similar to that at yvhich they yvere gazing yvith acuriosity yvhich renewed itself daily-. Onthis occasionthe sentiment prevalent on the outside ofthe grim fortress ofcrime yvas shared in an unusualdegree by the officials, and general, notcriminal, inhabitants. Not that a supposed murderer'sarrival was any novelty at Newgate, butthat the supiposed murderer in thepresent instanceyvas not of the class among which society ordinarilyrecruits its murderers, anclthe circumstancesbothof the crime and of its discovery wereexceptional. Thus, yvhen the gate unclosed bywhich the prisoners were to be admitted, the yardwas full of spectators.Four prisoners yvere committed that day: aburglar and his assistant; amerchant's clerk whohad managed a forgery so remarkably clevrcrlyrthat it needed only not to have been found out, tohavebeen a stroke ofbrilliant genius; and StewartRouth.The door was opened, the group of spectatorsgatheredaround.First the burglar, a wirylittle man, more like the tailor of real life than theconventional hero of the centre-bit andthe jemmy.Next,his assistant, an individual of jovial appear-

STRONG AS DEATH.301ance, tempered with responsibility, like a popularpresident of school feasts,or the leader ofa villagechoir. Thirdly, the forger, remarkable for nothingin his appearance except its abjectness of frightand bewilderment. These had emerged from thedarksome recesses of the hideous caravan, the firstand no slight instalment of their punishment, andhad been received with comparative indifference.A passing glance yvas all that was accorded tothem by the spectators waiting the appearance ofthe " gentleman" yvho yvas in such very serious"trouble."But the gentleman did not follow his temporaryassociates, though the policeman in attendanceheld the door open, and called to him to"come on." Then he stepped into the van andup to the compartment in yvhich Routh had beenplaced. Afteran elapse ofa fullminutehe emerged,and addressing the lookers-on generally, he said:" There's something queer the matter withhim, andItlrink he's dead!"A stir and confusion among the crowd, andthe governor called for. A matter-of-fact turnkeyadvances,saying, in abusiness-like tone:

300 BLACK SHEEP.similar to that at yvhich they yvere gazing yvith acuriosity yvhich renewed itself daily-. Onthis occasionthe sentiment prevalent on the outside ofthe grim fortress ofcrime yvas shared in an unusualdegree by the officials, and general, notcriminal, inhabitants. Not that a supposed murderer'sarrival was any novelty at Newgate, butthat the supiposed murderer in thepresent instanceyvas not of the class among which society ordinarilyrecruits its murderers, anclthe circumstancesbothof the crime and of its discovery wereexceptional. Thus, yvhen the gate unclosed bywhich the prisoners were to be admitted, the yardwas full of spectators.Four prisoners yvere committed that day: aburglar and his assistant; amerchant's clerk whohad managed a forgery so remarkably clevrcrlyrthat it needed only not to have been found out, tohavebeen a stroke ofbrilliant genius; and StewartRouth.<strong>The</strong> door was opened, the group of spectatorsgatheredaround.First the burglar, a wirylittle man, more like the tailor of real life than theconventional hero of the centre-bit andthe jemmy.Next,his assistant, an individual of jovial appear-

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