arer to me than my life; and you may take my life, if you will. I
bless God that I have been enabled to keep my wife free of this scene;
and that He has made me a man who will not ask mercy at such hands as
yours.'

'And a wery game old gentleman you are,' said Mr Dennis, approvingly;
'and you express yourself like a man. What's the odds, brother, whether
it's a lamp-post to-night, or a feather-bed ten year to come, eh?'

The locksmith glanced at him disdainfully, but returned no other answer.

'For my part,' said the hangman, who particularly favoured the lamp-post
suggestion, 'I honour your principles. They're mine exactly. In such
sentiments as them,' and here he emphasised his discourse with an oath,
'I'm ready to meet you or any man halfway.--Have you got a bit of cord
anywheres handy? Don't put yourself out of the way, if you haven't. A
handkecher will do.'

'Don't be a fool, master,' whispered Hugh, seizing Varden roughly by
the shoulder; 'but do as you're bid. You'll soon hear what you're wanted
for. Do it!'

'I'll do nothing at your request, or that of any scoundrel here,'
returned the locksmith. 'If you want any service from me, you may spare
yourselves the pains of telling me what it is. I tell you, beforehand,
I'll do nothing for you.'

Mr Dennis was so affected by this constancy on the part of the staunch
old man, that he protested--almost with tears in his eyes--that to baulk
his inclinations would be an act of cruelty and hard dealing to which
he, for one, never could reconcile his conscience. The gentleman, he
said, had avowed in so many words that he was ready for working off;
such being the case, he considered it their duty, as a civilised and
enlightened crowd, to work him off. It was not often, he observed, that
they had it in their power to accommodate themselves to the wishes of
those from whom they had the misfortune to differ. Having now found an
individual who expressed a desire which they could reasonably indulge
(and for himself he was free to confess that in his opinion that desire
did honour to his feelings), he hoped they would decide to accede to
his proposition before going any further. It was an experiment which,
skilfully and dexterously performed, would be over in five minutes, with
great comfort and satisfaction to all parties; and though it did not
become him (Mr Dennis) to speak well of himself he trusted he might
be allowed to say that he had practical knowledge of the subjec