They cried again to have him brought out; and it would have gone
hard with the honest locksmith, but that Hugh reminded them, in answer,
that they wanted his services, and must have them.
'So, tell him what we want,' he said to Simon Tappertit, 'and quickly.
And open your ears, master, if you would ever use them after to-night.'
Gabriel folded his arms, which were now at liberty, and eyed his old
'prentice in silence.
'Lookye, Varden,' said Sim, 'we're bound for Newgate.'
'I know you are,' returned the locksmith. 'You never said a truer word
than that.'
'To burn it down, I mean,' said Simon, 'and force the gates, and set the
prisoners at liberty. You helped to make the lock of the great door.'
'I did,' said the locksmith. 'You owe me no thanks for that--as you'll
find before long.'
'Maybe,' returned his journeyman, 'but you must show us how to force
it.'
'Must I!'
'Yes; for you know, and I don't. You must come along with us, and pick
it with your own hands.'
'When I do,' said the locksmith quietly, 'my hands shall drop off at the
wrists, and you shall wear them, Simon Tappertit, on your shoulders for
epaulettes.'
'We'll see that,' cried Hugh, interposing, as the indignation of the
crowd again burst forth.
Pages:
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840