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he next day was ushered in by merry peals of bells； and by
the firing of the Tower guns； flags were hoisted on many of
T
the church…steeples； the usual demonstrations were made
in honour of the anniversary of the King’s birthday； and every
man went about his pleasure or business as if the city were in
perfect order； and there were no half…smouldering embers in its
secret places； which； on the approach of night； would kindle up
again and scatter ruin and dismay abroad。 The leaders of the riot；
rendered still more daring by the success of last night and by the
booty they had acquired； kept steadily together； and only thought
of implicating the mass of their followers so deeply that no hope of
pardon or reward might tempt them to betray their more
notorious confederates into the hands of justice。
Indeed； the sense of having gone too far to be forgiven； held the
timid together no less than the bold。 Many who would readily have
pointed out the foremost rioters and given evidence against them；
felt that escape by that means was hopeless； when their every act
had been observed by scores of people who had taken no part in
the disturbances； who had suffered in their persons； peace； or
property； by the outrages of the mob； who would be most willing
witnesses； and whom the government would； no doubt； prefer to
any King’s evidence that might be offered。 Many of this class had
deserted their usual occupations on the Saturday morning； some
had been seen by their employers active in the tumult； others
knew they must be suspected； and that they would be discharged
if they returned； others had been desperate from the beginning；
and comforted themselves with the homely proverb； that； being
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hanged at all； they might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb。
They all hoped and believed； in a greater or less degree； that the
government they seemed to have paralysed； would； in its terror；
come to terms with them in the end； and suffer them to make their
own conditions。 The least sanguine among them reasoned with
himself that； at the worst； they were too many to be all punished；
and that he had as good a chance of escape as any other man。 The
great mass never reasoned or thought at all； but were stimulated
by their own headlong passions； by poverty； by ignorance； by the
love of mischief； and the hope of plunder。
One other circumstance is worthy of remark； and that is； that
from the moment of their first outbreak at Westminster； every
symptom of order or preconcerted arrangement among them
vanished。 When they divided into parties and ran to different
quarters of the town； it was on the spontaneous suggestion of the
moment。 Each party swelled as it went along； like rivers as they
roll towards the sea； new leaders sprang up as they were wanted；
disappeared when the necessity was over； and reappeared at the
next crisis。 Each tumult took shape and form from the
circumstances of the moment； sober workmen； going home from
their day’s labour； were seen to cast down their baskets of tools
and become rioters in an instant； mere boys on errands did the
like。 In a word； a moral plague ran through the city。 The noise； and
hurry； and excitement； had for hundreds and hundreds an
attraction they had no firmness to resist。 The contagion spread
like a dread fever： an infectious madness； as yet not near its
height； seized on new victims every hour； and society began to
tremble at their ravings。
It was between two and three o’clock in the afternoon when
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Barnaby Rudge 568
Gashford looked into the lair described in the last chapter； and
seeing only Barnaby and Dennis there； inquired for Hugh。
He was out； Barnaby told him； had gone out more than an hour
ago； and had not yet returned。
‘Dennis！’ said the smiling secretary； in his smoothest voice； as
he sat down cross…legged on a barrel； ‘Dennis！’
The hangman struggled into a sitting posture directly； and with
his eyes wide open； looked towards him。
‘How do you do； Dennis？’ said Gashford； nodding。 ‘I hope you
have suffered no inconvenience from your late exertions； Dennis？’
‘I always will say of you； Muster Gashford；’ returned the
hangman； staring at him； ‘that that ’ere quiet way of yours might
almost wake a dead man。 It is；’ he added； with a muttered oath—
still staring at him in a thoughtful manner—‘so awful sly！’
‘So distinct； eh Dennis？’
‘Distinct！’ he answered； scratching his head； and keeping his
eyes upon the secretary’s face； ‘I seem to hear it； Muster Gashford；
in my wery bones。’
‘I am very glad your sense of hearing is so sharp； and that I
succeed in making myself so intelligible；’ said Gashford； in his
unvarying； even tone。 ‘Where is your friend？’
Mr Dennis looked round as in expectation of beholding him
asleep upon his bed of straw； then remembering he had seen him
go out； replied：
‘I can’t say where he is； Muster Gashford； I expected him back
afore now。 I hope it isn’t time that we was busy； Muster Gashford？’
‘Nay；’ said the secretary； ‘who should know that as well as you？
How can I tell you； Dennis？ You are perfect master of your own
actions； you know； and accountable to nobody—except sometimes
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Barnaby Rudge 569
to the law； eh？’
Dennis； who was very much baffled by the cool matter…of…
course manner of this reply； recovered his self…possession on his
professional pursuits being referred to； and pointing towards
Barnaby； shook his head and frowned。
‘Hush！’ cried Barnaby。
‘Ah！ Do hush about that； Mus