punch; "but I never saw one like Jack Sheppard."

"Nor I," returned Ireton, following his example: "and I've had some
experience too. Ever since he came here, three months ago, he has been
the life and soul of the place; and now the death warrant has arrived,
instead of being cast down, as most men would be, and as all others
_are_, he's gayer than ever. Well, _I_ shall be sorry to lose him, Mr.
Griffin. We've made a pretty penny by him--sixty guineas this blessed
day."

"No more!" cried Griffin, incredulously; "I should have thought you must
have made double that sum at least."

"Not a farthing more, I assure you," rejoined Ireton, pettishly; "we're
all on the square here. I took the money myself, and _ought_ to know."

"Oh! certainly," answered Griffin; "certainly."

"I offered Jack five guineas as his share," continued Ireton; "but he
wouldn't take it himself, and gave it to the poor debtors and felons,
who are now drinking it out in the cellar on the Common Side."

"Jack's a noble fellow," exclaimed the head-jailer of Clerkenwell
Prison, raising his glass; "and, though he played me a scurvy trick,
I'll drink to his speedy deliverance."

"At Tyburn, eh, Mr. Shotbolt?" rejoined the executioner. "I'll pledge
you in that toast with all my heart."

"Well, for my part," observed Mrs. Spurling, "I hope he may never see
Tyburn. And, if I'd my own way with the Secretary of State, he never
_should_. It's a thousand pities to hang so pretty a fellow. There
haven't been so many ladies in the Lodge since the days of Claude Du
Val, the gentleman highwayman; and they all declare it'll break their
hearts if he's scragged."

"Bah!" ejaculated Marvel, gruffly.

"You think our sex has no feeling, I suppose, Sir," cried Mrs. Spurling,
indignantly; "but I can tell you we have. And, what's more, I tell you,
if Captain Sheppard _is_ hanged, you need never hope to call _me_ Mrs.
Marvel."

"'Zounds!" cried the executioner, in astonishment. "Do you know what you
are talking about, Mrs. Spurling? Why, if Captain Sheppard should get
off, it 'ud be fifty guineas out of my way. There's the grand laced
coat he wore at his trial, which I intend for my wedding-dress."

"Don't mention such a thing, Sir," interrupted the tapstress. "I
couldn't bear to see you in it. Your speaking of the trial brings the
whole scene to my mind. Ah! I shall never forget the figure Jack cut on
that occasion. What a buzz of admiration ran round the court a