balcony in one of the adjoining houses was
thronged with ladies, all of whom appeared to take a lively interest in
the scene, and to be full of commiseration for the criminal, not,
perhaps, unmixed with admiration of his appearance. Every window in the
public house was filled with guests; and, as in the case of St.
Andrew's, the churchyard wall of St. Giles's was lined with spectators.

A scene now ensued, highly characteristic of the age, and the occasion.
The doleful procession at once assumed a festive character. Many of the
soldiers dismounted, and called for drink. Their example was
immediately imitated by the officers, constables, javelin men, and other
attendants; and nothing was to be heard but shouts of laughter and
jesting,--nothing seen but the passing of glasses, and the emptying of
foaming jugs. Mr. Marvel, who had been a little discomposed by the
treatment he had experienced on Holborn Hill, very composedly filled and
lighted his pipe.

One group at the door attracted Jack's attention, inasmuch as it was
composed of several of his old acquaintances--Mr. Kneebone, Van
Galgebrok, and Baptist Kettleby--all of whom greeted him cordially.
Besides these, there was a sturdy-looking fellow, whom he instantly
recognised as the honest blacksmith who had freed him from his irons at
Tottenham.

"I am here, you see," said the smith.

"So I perceive," replied Jack.

At this moment, the landlord of the Crown, a jovial-looking stout
personage, with a white apron round his waist, issued from the house,
bearing a large wooden bowl filled with ale, which he offered to Jack,
who instantly rose to receive it. Raising the bowl in his right hand,
Jack glanced towards the balcony, in which the group of ladies were
seated, and begged to drink their healths; he then turned to Kneebone
and the others, who extended their hands towards him, and raised it to
his lips. Just as he was about to drain it, he encountered the basilisk
glance of Jonathan Wild, and paused.

"I leave this bowl for you," he cried, returning it to the landlord
untasted.

"Your father said so before you," replied Jonathan, malignantly; "and
yet it has tarried thus long."

"You will call for it before six months are passed," rejoined Jack,
sternly.

Once again the cavalcade was in motion, and winding its way by St.
Giles's church, the bell of which continued tolling all the time, passed
the pound, and entered Oxford Road, or, as it was then not unfrequ