per. Is it not all very proper?"
The turnkey looked calmly into the face of his prisoner and as calmly
replied: "It is, sir, as you say, very proper."
"It would be much relief," said John Law, as the turnkey again appeared,
bearing the box in his own hands, "if I might don my new garments. I
would liefer make a good showing for thy house, friend, and can not, in
this garb."
"Sirrah," said the jailer, "there be rules of this place, as you very
well know. Your little chamber was to have been in corridor number four,
number twelve of the left aisle. But, sir, as perhaps you know, there be
rules which are rules, and rules which are not so much--that is to
say--rules, as you might put it, sir. The main thing is that I produce
your body on the day of the hearing, which cometh soon. Meantime, since
you seem a gentleman, and are in for no common felony, but charged, as I
might say, with a light offense, why, sir, in such a case, I might say
that a gentleman like yourself, if he cared to wear a bit of good
clothes and wear it here in the parlor like, why, sir, I can see no harm
in it. And that's competent to prove, as the judge says."
"Very well, then," said Law, "I'll e'en deck out with the gear I should
have had to-night had I been free; though I fear my employment this
evening will scarce be pleasing as that which I had planned. Will, had I
had but one more night at the Green Lion, we'd e'en have needed a
special chair to carry home my winnings of their English gold."
Enter then, a few moments later, "Beau" Law, "Jessamy" Law, late of
Edinboro', gentleman, and a right gallant figure of a man. Tall he was
indeed, and, so clad, making a picture of superb manhood. Ease and grace
he showed in every movement. His long fingers closed lightly at top of a
lacquered cane which he had found within the box. Deep ruffles of white
hung down from his wrists, and a fall of wide lace drooped from the
bosom of his ruffled shirt. His wig, deep curled and well whitened, gave
a certain austerity to his mien. At his instep sparkled new buckles of
brilliants, rising above which sprang a graceful ankle, a straight and
well-rounded leg. The long lapels of his rich coat hung deep, and the
rich waistcoat of plum-colored satin added slimness to a torso not too
bulky in itself. Neat, dainty, fastidious, "Jessamy" Law, late of
Edinboro', for some weeks of London, and now of a London prison, scarce
seemed a man about to be put on trial for his li
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