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trouble before I made your acquaintance； and as you have been
my companion； and have been of use to me for a long time now； I
overlook that part of the matter； and am only anxious that you
shouldn’t die unnecessarily。 Now； I do not consider that； at
present； it is at all necessary。’
‘What else is left me？’ returned the prisoner。 ‘To eat my way
through these walls with my teeth？’
‘Something easier than that；’ returned his friend。 ‘Promise me
that you will talk no more of these fancies of yours—idle； foolish
things； quite beneath a man—and I’ll tell you what I mean。’
‘Tell me；’ said the other。
‘Your worthy lady with the tender conscience； your scrupulous；
virtuous； punctilious； but not blindly affectionate wife—’
‘What of her？’
‘Is now in London。’
‘A curse upon her； be she where she may！’
‘That’s natural enough。 If she had taken her annuity as usual；
you would not have been here； and we should have been better off。
But that’s apart from the business。 She’s in London。 Scared； as I
suppose； and have no doubt； by my representation when I waited
upon her； that you were close at hand （which I； of course； urged
only as an inducement to compliance； knowing that she was not
pining to see you）； she left that place； and travelled up to London。’
‘How do you know？’
‘From my friend the noble captain—the illustrious general—the
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bladder； Mr Tappertit。 I learnt from him the last time I saw him；
which was yesterday； that your son who is called Barnaby—not
after his father； I suppose—’
‘Death！ does that matter now！’
‘—You are impatient；’ said the blind man； calmly； ‘it’s a good
sign； and looks like life—that your son Barnaby had been lured
away from her by one of his companions who knew him of old； at
Chigwell； and that he is now among the rioters。’
‘And what is that to me？ If father and son be hanged together；
what comfort shall I find in that？’
‘Stay—stay； my friend；’ returned the blind man； with a cunning
look； ‘you travel fast to journeys’ ends。 Suppose I track my lady
out； and say thus much： “You want your son； ma’am—good。 I；
knowing those who tempt him to remain among them； can restore
him to you； ma’am—good。 You must pay a price； ma’am； for his
restoration—good again。 The price is small； and easy to be paid—
dear ma’am； that’s best of all。”’
‘What mockery is this？’
‘Very likely； she may reply in those words。 “No mockery at all；”
I answer： “Madam； a person said to be your husband （identity is
difficult of proof after the lapse of many years） is in prison； his life
in peril—the charge against him； murder。 Now； ma’am； your
husband has been dead a long； long time。 The gentleman never
can be confounded with him； if you will have the goodness to say a
few words； on oath； as to when he died； and how； and that this
person （who I am told resembles him in some degree） is no more
he than I am。 Such testimony will set the question quite at rest。
Pledge yourself to me to give it； ma’ am； and I will undertake to
keep your son （a fine lad） out of harm’s way until you have done
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this trifling service； when he shall he delivered up to you； safe and
sound。 On the other hand； if you decline to do so； I fear he will be
betrayed； and handed over to the law； which will assuredly
sentence him to suffer death。 It is； in fact； a choice between his life
and death。 If you refuse； he swings。 If you comply； the timber is
not grown； nor the hemp sown； that shall do him any harm。”’
‘There is a gleam of hope in this！’ cried the prisoner。
‘A gleam！’ returned his friend； ‘a noon…blaze； a full and glorious
daylight。 Hush！ I hear the tread of distant feet。 Rely on me。’
‘When shall I hear more？’
‘As soon as I do。 I should hope； to…morrow。 They are coming to
say that our time for talk is over。 I hear the jingling of the keys。
Not another word of this just now； or they may overhear us。’
As he said these words； the lock was turned； and one of the
prison turnkeys appearing at the door； announced that it was time
for visitors to leave the jail。
‘So soon！’ said Stagg； meekly。 ‘But it can’t be helped。 Cheer up；
friend。 This mistake will soon be set at rest； and then you are a
man again！ If this charitable gentleman will lead a blind man （who
has nothing in return but prayers） to the prison…porch； and set him
with his face towards the west； he will do a worthy deed。 Thank
you； good sir。 I thank you very kindly。’
So saying； and pausing for an instant at the door to turn his
grinning face towards his friend； he departed。
When the officer had seen him to the porch； he returned； and
again unlocking and unbarring the door of the cell； set it wide
open； informing its inmate that he was at liberty to walk in the
adjacent yard； if he thought proper； for an hour。 The prisoner
answered with a sullen nod； and being left alone again； sat
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brooding over what he had heard； and pondering upon the hopes
the recent conversation had awakened； gazing abstractedly； the
while he did so； on the light without； and watching the shadows
thrown by one wall on another； and on the stone…paved ground。
It was a dull； square yard； made cold and gloomy by high walls；
and seeming to chill the very sunlight。 The stone； so bare； and
rough； and obdurate； filled even him with longing thoughts of
meadow…land and trees； and with a burning wish to be at liberty。
As he looked； he rose； and leaning against the door…post； gazed up
at the bright blue sky