f's officers came as regularly to wait for the
Captain on Finucane's staircase as at his own door. It was to Finucane's
chambers that poor Mrs. Shandon came often and often to explain her
troubles and griefs, and devise means of rescue for her adored Captain.
Many a meal did Finucane furnish for her and the child there. It was an
honour to his little rooms to be visited by such a lady; and as she went
down the staircase with her veil over her face, Fin would lean over the
balustrade looking after her, to see that no Temple Lovelace assailed
her upon the road, perhaps hoping that some rogue might be induced to
waylay her, so that he, Fin, might have the pleasure of rushing to her
rescue, and breaking the rascal's bones. It was a sincere pleasure to
Mrs. Shandon when the arrangements were made by which her kind honest
champion was appointed her husband's aide-de-camp in the newspaper.

He would have sate with Mrs. Shandon as late as the prison hours
permitted, and had indeed many a time witnessed the putting to bed
of little Mary, who occupied a crib in the room; and to whose evening
prayers that God might bless papa, Finucane, although of the Romish
faith himself, had said Amen with a great deal of sympathy--but he had
an appointment with Mr. Bungay regarding the affairs of the paper which
they were to discuss over a quiet dinner. So he went away at six o'clock
from Mrs. Shandon, but made his accustomed appearance at the Fleet
Prison next morning, having arrayed himself in his best clothes and
ornaments, which, though cheap as to cost, were very brilliant as
to colour and appearance, and having in his pocket four pounds two
shillings, being the amount of his week's salary at the Daily Journal,
minus two shillings expended by him in the purchase of a pair of gloves
on his way to the prison.

He had cut his mutton with Mr. Bungay, as the latter gentleman phrased
it, and Mr. Trotter, Bungay's reader and literary man of business, at
Dick's Coffee-house on the previous day, and entered at large into his
views respecting the conduct of the Pall Mall Gazette. In a masterly
manner he had pointed out what should be the sub-editorial arrangements
of the paper: what should be the type for the various articles: who
should report the markets; who the turf and ring; who the Church
intelligence; and who the fashionable chit-chat. He was acquainted with
gentlemen engaged in cultivating these various departments of knowledge,
and in com