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done； that you should talk to us like this！’
‘Nothing；’ returned Gashford with a sneer。 ‘If you are cast into
prison； if the young man—’ here he looked hard at Barnaby’s
attentive face—‘is dragged from us and from his friends； perhaps
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from people whom he loves； and whom his death would kill； is
thrown into jail； brought out and hanged before their eyes； still； do
nothing。 You’ll find it your best policy； I have no doubt。’
‘Come on！’ cried Hugh； striding towards the door。 ‘Dennis—
Barnaby—come on！’
‘Where？ To do what？’ said Gashford； slipping past him； and
standing with his back against it。
‘Anywhere！ Anything！’ cried Hugh。 ‘Stand aside； master； or the
window will serve our turn as well。 Let us out！’
‘Ha ha ha！ You are of such—of such an impetuous nature；’ said
Gashford； changing his manner for one of the utmost good
fellowship and the pleasantest raillery； ‘you are such an excitable
creature—but you’ll drink with me before you go？’
‘Oh； yes—certainly；’ growled Dennis； drawing his sleeve across
his thirsty lips。 ‘No malice； brother。 Drink with Muster Gashford！’
Hugh wiped his heated brow； and relaxed into a smile。 The
artful secretary laughed outright。
‘Some liquor here！ Be quick； or he’ll not stop； even for that。 He
is a man of such desperate ardour！’ said the smooth secretary；
whom Mr Dennis corroborated with sundry nods and muttered
oaths—‘Once roused； he is a fellow of such fierce determination！’
Hugh poised his sturdy arm aloft； and clapping Barnaby on the
back； bade him fear nothing。 They shook hands together—poor
Barnaby evidently possessed with the idea that he was among the
most virtuous and disinterested heroes in the world—and
Gashford laughed again。
‘I hear；’ he said smoothly； as he stood among them with a great
measure of liquor in his hand； and filled their glasses as quickly
and as often as they chose； ‘I hear—but I cannot say whether it be
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true or false—that the men who are loitering in the streets to…night
are half disposed to pull down a Romish chapel or two； and that
they only want leaders。 I even heard mention of those in Duke
Street； Lincoln’s Inn Fields； and in Warwick Street； Golden
Square； but common report； you know—You are not going？’
—‘To do nothing； master； eh？’ cried Hugh。 ‘No jails and halter
for Barnaby and me。 They must be frightened out of that。 Leaders
are wanted； are they？ Now boys！’
‘A most impetuous fellow！’ cried the secretary。 ‘Ha ha！ A
courageous； boisterous； most vehement fellow！ A man who—’
There was no need to finish the sentence； for they had rushed
out of the house； and were far beyond hearing。 He stopped in the
middle of a laugh； listened； drew on his gloves； and； clasping his
hands behind him； paced the deserted room for a long time； then
bent his steps towards the busy town； and walked into the streets。
They were filled with people； for the rumour of that day’s
proceedings had made a great noise。 Those persons who did not
care to leave home； were at their doors or windows； and one topic
of discourse prevailed on every side。 Some reported that the riots
were effectually put down； others that they had broken out again：
some said that Lord George Gordon had been sent under a strong
guard to the Tower； others that an attempt had been made upon
the King’s life； that the soldiers had been again called out； and that
the noise of musketry in a distant part of the town had been
plainly heard within an hour。 As it grew darker； these stories
became more direful and mysterious； and often； when some
frightened passenger ran past with tidings that the rioters were
not far off； and were coming up； the doors were shut and barred；
lower windows made secure； and as much consternation
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engendered； as if the city were invaded by a foreign army。
Gashford walked stealthily about； listening to all he heard； and
diffusing or confirming； whenever he had an opportunity； such
false intelligence as suited his own purpose； and； busily occupied
in this way； turned into Holborn for the twentieth time； when a
great many women and children came flying along the street—
often panting and looking back—and the confused murmur of
numerous voices struck upon his ear。 Assured by these tokens；
and by the red light which began to flash upon the houses on
either side； that some of his friends were indeed approaching； he
begged a moment’s shelter at a door which opened as he passed；
and running with some other persons to an upper window； looked
out upon the crowd。
They had torches among them； and the chief faces were
distinctly visible。 That they had been engaged in the destruction of
some building was sufficiently apparent； and that it was a Catholic
place of worship was evident from the spoils they bore as trophies；
which were easily recognisable for the vestments of priests； and
rich fragments of altar furniture。 Covered with soot； and dirt； and
dust； and lime； their garments torn to rags； their hair hanging
wildly about them； their hands and faces jagged and bleeding with
the wounds of rusty nails； Barnaby； Hugh； and Dennis hurried on
before them all； like hideous madmen。 After them； the dense
throng came fighting on： some singing； some shouting in triumph；
some quarrelling among themselves； some menacing the
spectators as they passed； some with great wooden fragments； on
which they spent their rage as if they had been alive； rending them
limb from limb； and hurling the scattered morsels high into the
air； some