an't go into the Condemned Hold," said Ireton, consequentially;
"it's against Mr. Wild's orders. They must see the prisoner at the
hatch."

"Very well, Sir," replied Austin, rising and walking towards them.
"Well, my pretty dears," he added, "--to see your husband, eh? You must
make the most of your time. You won't have him long. You've heard the
news, I suppose?"

"That the death warrant's arrived," returned Edgeworth Bess, bursting
into a flood of tears; "oh, yes! we've heard it."

"How does Jack bear it?" inquired Mrs. Maggot.

"Like a hero," answered Austin.

"I knew he would," replied the Amazon. "Come Bess,--no whimpering. Don't
unman him. Are we to see him here?"

"Yes, my love."

"Well, then, lose no time in bringing him to us," said Mrs. Maggot.
"There's a guinea to drink our health," she added, slipping a piece of
money into his hand.

"Here, Caliban," shouted the under-turnkey, "unlock Captain Sheppard's
padlock, and tell him his wives are in the Lodge waiting to see him."

"Iss, Massa Austin," replied the black. And taking the keys, he departed
on the errand.

As soon as he was gone, the two women divested themselves of their hoods
and cloaks, and threw them, as if inadvertently, into the farthest part
of the angle in the wall. Their beautifully proportioned figures and
rather over-displayed shoulders attracted the notice of Austin, who
inquired of the chief turnkey "whether he should stand by them during
the interview?"

"Oh! never mind them," said Mrs. Spurling, who had been hastily
compounding another bowl of punch. "Sit down, and enjoy yourself. I'll
keep a look out that nothing happens."

By this time Caliban had returned, and Jack appeared at the hatch. He
was wrapped in a loose dressing-gown of light material, and stood near
the corner where the women's dresses had just been thrown down, quite
out of sight of all the party, except Mrs. Spurling, who sat on the
right of the table.

"Have you got Jonathan out of the way?" he asked, in an eager whisper.

"Yes, yes," replied Edgeworth Bess. "Patience Kite has lured him to
Enfield on a false scent after Blueskin. You need fear no interruption
from him, or any of his myrmidons."

"That's well!" cried Jack. "Now stand before me, Poll. I've got the
watch-spring saw in my sleeve. Pretend to weep both of you as loudly as
you can. This spike is more than half cut through. I was at work at it
yesterday and the day before. Keep up the clamour f