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 up his folded hands; 'whereas it's worse, it's worse a
hundred times, to me than any man. Let them know that, sir. Let them
know that. They've made it worse to me by giving me so much to do. Stop
my execution till they know that!'

The governor beckoned with his hand, and the two men, who had supported
him before, approached. He uttered a piercing cry:

'Wait! Wait. Only a moment--only one moment more! Give me a last chance
of reprieve. One of us three is to go to Bloomsbury Square. Let me be
the one. It may come in that time; it's sure to come. In the Lord's name
let me be sent to Bloomsbury Square. Don't hang me here. It's murder.'

They took him to the anvil: but even then he could be heard above the
clinking of the smiths' hammers, and the hoarse raging of the crowd,
crying that he knew of Hugh's birth--that his father was living, and
was a gentleman of influence and rank--that he had family secrets in his
possession--that he could tell nothing unless they gave him time, but
must die with them on his mind; and he continued to rave in this sort
until his voice failed him, and he sank down a mere heap of clothes
between the two attendants.

It was at this moment that the clock struck the first stroke of twelve,
and the bell began to toll. The various officers, with the two sheriffs
at their head, moved towards the door. All was ready when the last chime
came upon the ear.

They told Hugh this, and asked if h