 Section 1 of Mysteries of London, Volume 4. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Mysteries of London, Volume 4 by George W. M. Reynolds. Continuation of the Locke's visits to his prisoners. Having quitted the dungeon in which Josh Pedler was confined, the Black Amour proceeded to the next cell, but instead of opening the door, he merely drew back a small sliding lid that covered a grated trap and the faint rays of a light streamed from the inside. Tid Marsh said the Black Amour in a feigned tone. Has your mind grown easier? Yes, sir. Oh, yes, replied the prisoner from the interior of his dungeon. Since you allowed me a light and good books, I have been comparatively a happy man. I know that I deserve punishment, and it seems to do me good to feel that I am atoning for my offenses in this manner. I am not afraid of being alone now, and when I put out my light, I am not afraid of being in the dark. You pray with more composure, said the Black and surrogatively. Yes, sir. I can settle my mind to prayer now, was the answer, and I am sure that my prayers are heard. But pray, believe, sir, that I never was so wicked, so very wicked as that bad man who kept me for years in his employ. I know that I was too willing an instrument in his hands, and I am sorry for it now. The thing that lays heaviest on my mind is the share I had in sending poor Tom Rain to the scaffold. You are sorry for that deed, inquired the Black in a low and slightly tremulous tone? Oh, God, forgive me, exclaimed Tid Marsh, his voice expressing sincere contrition. I do indeed deeply, deeply deplore my share in that awful business, and the ghost of poor Tom Rain used to haunt me when I was first here. In fact, Tom Rain was ever uppermost in my thoughts, and strange though it may seem it is not the less true, sir, that your voice appeared to penetrate to my very soul as if it was Tom Rain himself that was speaking to me. But I've got over all those ideas now since I learned to pray, and when I grow dull, I read the good books you have lent me. Sometimes I study the Bible, and I find that if I pour over it too much, it makes me melancholy. Then I turn to the travels and voyages, and I become tranquil again. Should you not rejoice at any opportunity of retrieving your character even in your old age, and earning an honest livelihood for yourself, asked the Black? Oh, if such a thing could be, cried the man in a tone of exaltation, but no, it is impossible, he added after a pause and speaking in an altered voice. I have sinned too deeply in respect to poor Tom Rain to be able to hope for such happiness. God is punishing me in this world, you being his instrument, and yet I can scarcely call it punishment since you treat me with such kindness. There are times when I even wish that I was more severely punished here, so that I might expiate all my sins and feel certain about my fate in another world. God is full of forgiveness to Marsh, said the Black, I feel that he is, he added in a somewhat enthusiastic manner. The prospect I distantly hinted at in respect to yourself may possibly become practicable. You are old, but you may still have many years to live in, it would be wrong, it would be detestable, not to give you a full opportunity sooner or later of enabling you to testify your contrition. But I cannot speak farther on this subject at present, I have brought you some more books, one is at Tale, The Vicar of Wakefield, The Perusal of Witch, Do You Know Han? It will show you how virtue, though suffering for a time, was rewarded at last, in a few days I shall myself visit you again. The Black closed the trap and stood away from the door which Wilton now opened, and the basket furnished the prisoner with his provisions and also with some volumes of good and beneficial reading. The visiting party next proceeded to the cell in which Toby Bunce and his wife were confined together, and here as in the immediately preceding instance the Black spoke to them through a sliding trap from which the light also gleamed. For three days have you now been together after dwelling some time apart, said the Black Amour, continuing to speak in a feigned tone, and I now conjure you to tell me truly whether you would rather be thus in each other's company or separated as before. Oh, leave us together, sir, leave us together, I implore you, cried Mrs. Bunce, in a voice of earnest appeal, we are now the best friends in the world, and I promised my husband never to say a crossword unnecessarily to him again. She seems quite an altered woman, sir, observed Toby, but then what demanded the Black, seeing that the man hesitated? Well, sir, I will speak my mind free, continued Bunce, because I am no longer afraid to do so. I was going to say that perhaps it is this loneliness in which we are placed that makes Betsy talk as she does, and that if we were to be again together out of doors, you would not find me change, Toby, interrupted the woman, but not in a quarrelous manner. I like to hear you read to me from the Bible and from the other good books that the gentleman has given us. I wish we had passed more of our time in this way before we got into all this trouble. But praise, sir, she added, turning towards the door. Do tell me whether you mean to keep us here all our lives. You must ask me no questions. Remember, said the Black in a mild but firm tone. I've told you this before, learn to subdue all impatience and to become resigned and enduring. You have made others suffer in the world. You have been the agents and tools of a wicked man, and you now see that heaven is punishing you through the means of one who has power thus to treat you. Oh, how I wish that I had never known that detestable bones exclaimed the woman covering her face with her hands, and how I wish that I had stuck to my trade in an honest manner, cried Toby, bouncing up voice of unfeigned contrition. Think of all that, repeat those sentences to each other as often as you can, said the Black Amour. In the course of a few days I shall visit you again. With these words he stood back from the door which Wilton opened, and the two inmates of the dungeon received supplies of wholesome food and moral or instructive books. The party then proceeded farther along the subterranean passage from which the various cells opened. Do you mean, sir, to fulfill your intention of this night visiting him? Inquired Caesar addressing his master in a low, faint and tremulous tone as if he were a prey to some vague terror. The Black Amour did not immediately answer the question, but placing his hand upon his brow appeared to reflect profoundly for almost the space of a minute. Wilton, who seemed acquainted as well as Caesar with all his master's secrets, likewise surveyed the Black with mingled curiosity and apprehension. Yes, at length exclaimed the mysterious personage. I will now, for the first time since he has been my prisoner here, hold personal communication with Benjamin Bones. The party proceeded in silence to a cell near the extremity of the long subterranean passage, and on reaching it the Black handed the lamp to Caesar, at the same time making a sign to that youth and the other dependents to stand back so that no gleam of the light should penetrate into the dungeon when the door was opened. They obeyed in profound silence and their master immediately entered the cell, closing the door behind him with that rapidity which is exercised by a brute tamer when introducing himself into the cage of a wild beast. The interior of the dungeon was as dark as pitch, so dark that there was not even that greyish appearance which obscurity frequently wears to eyes accustomed to it. It was a darkness that might be felt, a darkness which seemed to touch and hang upon the visual organs like a dense black mist. Who is it? demanded the supple voice of old death, his tone marked with a subdued ferocity and a sort of savage growling which seemed to denote a rankerous hate and pent-up longings for bitter vengeance against the authors of his solitary imprisonment. I am the person who keeps you here answered the Black, studying to adopt a voice even more feigned and unlike his natural tones than when he was now addressing Tidmarsh and the Bunces. Still that voice had in it some peculiarity which appeared to touch a chord that vibrated to the very core of old death's heart, for he evidently made a starting movement as he said hoarsely and thickly, but who are you, a specter or a living being, tell me who you are? I am a living being like yourself, was the reply delivered in a voice disguised in deeper modulations than before, are you afraid of being visited by specters? There was a long pause during which the deep silence was interrupted only by the heavy breathing of old death as if the utter darkness of the place sat oppressively upon him. Are you afraid of specters? I asked, demanded the Black who was leaning with folded arms against the door and with his eyes in the direction where he presumed old death to be seated, though not even the faintest outline of his form could he trace amidst that black obscurity. Bring me a light or let me out and I will answer all your questions, cried Benjamin Bones, his anxiety to obtain his freedom giving, a cadence of earnest appeal to his voice in spite of the tremendous rage which his bosom cherished against the individual who had proclaimed himself to be his jailer. Do you deserve mercy? Do you merit the indulgence of man? Ask the Black in a tone profoundly solemn. What do you know of me? Who are you? Why did you have me brought here? And by what right do you keep me in this infernal place? Demanded old death rapidly and savagely. Is it not a just restribution which makes you a prisoner in a subterranean where you have often imprisoned others, said the Black? Then tis that miscreant Ellingham, who has put me here, exclaimed Bones in a tone which showed that he was quivering with rage. Demand, fiend, yes, you are Lord Ellingham. I thought I knew your voice, although you tried to disguise it. At the first moment I fancied, but that was stupid. Still it struck me that it was the voice of Tom Rain which spoke. The old wretch juggled with horrible ferocity and savage glee. I did for him, I did for him, I sent him to the scaffold, I got him hanged, and now he is food for worms, Ellingham, for I know you are Lord Ellingham. I can have the laugh at you, you devil, although you keep me here. Miserable old man, said the Black in a tone of deep pity, though still disguised in modulation. Are you insensible to the whisperings of conscience? Yes, now that you are here cried Benjamin Bones, his clothes rustling as if with the trembling nervousness of enraged excitement. You made me sell you these houses, you took them away from me by force as it were, and now you keep me a prisoner here. It is all through vengeance that you do it, you who pretended to be above all thoughts or intentions of revenge. As God is my judge, I harbor no such as sentiment towards you, said the Black more emphatically, but will you converse tranquilly and calmly with me? Well, I will try, returned old death, what do you want to say to me? To remind you that you are an old, very old man, and that you cannot hope to live much longer. Fiend, would you kill me in cold blood, interrupted bones in a sort of shrieking yelling tone that indicated mingled alarm and rage? Had I intended to slay you, I might have done it when you were first brought here as my prisoner, answered the Black, rest satisfied on that head. Then you do not mean to kill me, exclaimed old death, with all the hysterical joy of a coward soul in spite of his natural and still untamed ferocity. Heaven forbid, ejaculated the Black Amur. There now, to the voice of Tom Rain, once again, cried old death, evidently shuddering as he spoke, but no, I am a fool, you are the Earl, yes, tell me, are you not the Earl of Ellingham? No matter who I am, was the solemn reply, if you ask me questions, I will immediately leave you. No, don't go for a few minutes, exclaimed old death imploringly. I've been here a month, yes, for I have counted the visits of your men who come as they tell me every night to bring me food, and I know that I have been here a month. In all that time, I have only exchanged a dozen words with human beings, and this solitude is horrible. You have leisure to ponder on all your crimes, said the Black. Who made you my judge demanded old death with a return of his ferocity of turn and manner? If you want me to confess all my sins and will then set me free, I will do it, he added in a somewhat ironical way. Confession is useless without true repentance, observed the Black Amur. Besides all your misdeeds are known to me, your behavior to your half-sister Octavia Manners years ago, your treatment of poor Jacob Smith, your machinations to destroy Thomas Rainford. Then by all this am I convinced that you are the Earl of Ellingham, cried old death. Ah, my lord, he immediately added in a voice which suddenly changed to a tone of earnest appeal. Do not keep me here any longer, let me go and I will leave London forever. Reflect my lord, I am an old man, a very old man, you yourself said so just now and you are killing me by keeping me here. Send me out of the country anywhere you choose, however distant and I will thank you, but again I say do not keep me here. Winter savage animal goes about praying upon the weekend on where he should be placed under restraint, said the Black Amur. You are not repentant Benjamin Jones. A month have you been here, a month have you been allowed to ponder upon your enormities and still your soul is obdurate, not many minutes have elapsed since you gloried in one of the most infamous deeds of your long and wicked life. I spoke of Tom Rain to annoy you because I was enraged with you for keeping me here, returned old death hastily. There have been moments he added after a short pause when I have felt sorry for what I did in that respect. I would not do so over again. No, my lord, I assure you I would not. I wish your poor half brother was alive now. I would not seek to injure him even if I had the power. You speak thus because you have been alone and in the dark observed the Black Amur in a mournful voice, but were you restored to freedom to the enjoyment of the light of God's own son and to the possession of the power of following your career of iniquity. You would again glory in that dreadful deed. No, answered old death, I am sorry for it. I know that my nature is savage and ferocious, but were you tame me by cruelty and you're keeping me here is downright cruelty and nothing more or less. It makes me vindictive. It makes me feel at times as if I hated you. I shall keep you here nevertheless for some time longer. I and in the dark returned the Black Amur because you seek not to subdue your revengeful feelings. It is terrible to think that so old a man should be so inveterately wicked. Do you know that your gang is broken up, rendered powerless in the cells of this subterranean? I have no hope from without Groudel death, his garments again rustling with a movement of savage impatience, and for an instant it struck the Black Amur that he could see two ferocious eyes gleaming in the dark. But this was doubtless, the mere fancy of the moment. Yes, you are beyond the reach of human aid unless by my will and consent said the Black Amur. Your late companions or tools in iniquity are all housed safely here. And what is more, they are penitent. Listen for a moment, Benjamin Bones, and may the information I'm about to give you prove an instructive lesson. Timothy's splint is at this instant reading the Bible therein to search for hope and consolation, which God does not deny to the worst sinners when they are truly penitent. Joshua Pedler is occupying himself and writing a letter of advice to a young girl who became his mistress whom he drove to prostitution, who is now earning her livelihood in a respectable manner. Tidd Marsh deplores the folly which made him your instrument, and he is reading good books. Bones and his wife are together in the same dungeon, and the woman is rapidly yielding up to her husband, that empire which he had usurped. They too regret that they ever knew you, and the Bible is their solace. Of six persons whom I imprisoned in this place, which was once your own property, five are already repentant. You, who are the sixth, alone, remain obdurate and hardened. And my old friends curse me, moaned the ancient miscreant, his voice seeming more hollow and sepulchre than ever, as if he were covering his face with his hands. What the people who owe so much to me, the Bunces, Tidd Marsh, would not speak to you unless it were to convert you added to black. Thus you perceive you, who in the common course of nature are of all the sixth and nearest to the threshold of the tomb, you who have so many years upon your head and such deep and manifold crimes to expiate you, Benjamin Bones. Continue the warning voice are the last to show the slightest, the faintest sign of penitence. Is not this deplorable, and even now you appear to regret that your late companions in crime should be in their hearts thus alienated from you. Doubtless you trusted to the chapter of accidents, to the hazard of chances, to enable them to discover your place of imprisonment and affect your rescue. Old death groaned heavily in spite of himself. Yes, such was your hope, such was your idea, resumed the black. Now you are unmanned by disappointment, even your friend Jeffery's turned against you. He led you into the snare which I set for you. He will not raise an arm to save you from my power. He does not even know where you are. Then I am abandoned by the all the world, shrieked forth the wretched miscreant, unable to subdue the agonizing emotions which this conviction excited within him. He who finds himself abandoned by all the world should throw himself upon his maker, said to black Amor. There, there, it is the voice of Rainford again, cried old death evidently seized with ineffable terror. But no, no, you are the Earl of Ellingham. You must be the Earl. Yet why do you every now and then imitate the tone of Tom Rain? Is it to frighten me, my lord? Tell me, is it to frighten me? You seem inaccessible to fear of any kind, answered the black. I mean a fear which may be permanent and salutary. You have occasional qualms of conscience which you cannot altogether resist, but which almost immediately pass away. Have you no wish to make your peace with heaven? Would you pray with a clergyman for one to visit you? No, I am unfit for prayer. I should not have the patience to stand the questioning of a clergyman, answered old death hastily. Then almost immediately afterwards he said, but I was wrong to give such a reply. Yes, send me a clergyman. Let him bring a light. Do anything to relieve me from this solitude and this darkness. My lord, for I know that you are the Earl of Ellingham. Pray take compassion upon me. I am an old, a very old man, my lord, and I cannot endure this confinement. I told you just now that I was sorry for what I did to your brother-in-law, and you know that I cannot recall him to life. Neither will you do so by killing me. Have mercy upon me then, my lord. Let me leave this horrible place. To enter the great world again and renew your course of crime. Interrupted the black? No, Benjamin Bones. That may not be. Let me first become assured that you sincerely and truly repent of your misdeeds. Let me be impressed with the conviction that you are sorry for the crimes which have marked your long life. And then we will speak of ameliorating your condition. For the present, do not consider me as your enemy. Do not look upon me as a man acting toward you from vindictive motives. Notives only know for where I inclined to vent on you a miserable spite or a fiendish malignity. The means are not deficient. I might keep you without food for days together, but each day your provender is renewed, or I might even kill you outright, and yet I would not violently injure a hair of your head tomorrow evening. I will visit you again in the meantime endeavor to subdue your feelings so that you may then speak to me without irritation. With these words the black abruptly thrust the door open and quitted the dungeon. But at that instant Caesar, who had been pacing up and down with Wilton in the immediate vicinity of that particular cell, was so close to the entrance that the light of the lamp which he carried in his hand streamed full upon the countenance of his master as the latter sprang forth from the deep darkness of old death's prison house. The glare for a moment showed the interior of the dungeon and the black mechanically turning his eyes towards the place where he presumed Benjamin Bones to be, caught a rapid glimpse of the hideous old man seated, or rather crouched on his bed, his hands clasped round his knees and his form so arched that his knees and gin almost appeared to meet. In another instant the dungeon door was closed violently by the black amour, whereas he locked and barred it, set in a low and somewhat reproachful tone to Caesar. You should not have been so incautious as to throw the light upon me just as I was leaving the cell. Old death had time even in that single moment during which the glare flashed upon my countenance to observe me distinctly. I'm truly sorry, sir, that I should have been so imprudent, answered Caesar in that tone of vexation at his fault, but it is impossible that he could recognize you. I believe so, observed the black, and therefore we will say no more upon the subject. The old man remains obdurate and hardened. He continued, still speaking in a low whisper, and yet I have hopes of him as well as of the others. Wilton supplied Benjamin Bones with provisions through the trap in his dungeon door, and the party then quitted the subterranean by the mode of egress communicating with the house in Red Lion Street, Clarkinwell, for the reader it now perceives as indeed he may long ago have conjectured that the black's dwelling was established in the quarters, lately tenanted by old death. End of section one. Section two of Mysteries of London, volume four. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Mysteries of London, volume four by George W. M. Reynolds. Section two, a conversation. Pastly over another month, eight weeks having now elapsed since the six prisoners were first consigned to their dungeons, and four weeks from the date of those visits, the description of which has occupied the two proceeding chapters. It was between nine and ten o'clock in the evening, and the black-a-moor was seated in his apartment looking over some letters when Caesar ushered in Dr. LaCelle's. Good evening, my dear sir, said the black-a-moor, shaking the worthy physician cordially by the hand. Be seated, and Caesar will bring us a bottle of that claret, which you so much admire. I'm delighted that you have at length found time to give me an hour or two in order that I may enter into full and complete explanations of certain matters. I understand, I understand, interrupted the doctor good-humidly. Your theory has proved to me more practical than I expected, but I shall not say any more about it until you have given me all the details of its progress. And before you begin, I must observe that the case which took me out of town six weeks ago, and has kept me at Brighton all the time, has ended most satisfactorily. I have affected a complete cure. I'm delighted to hear tidings so glorious from you, doctor, said the black. A case which had baffled all the physicians who had previously be concerned in it is now conducted to a successful issue by yourself. It will wondrously and deservedly increase your reputation, great as that fame already was. My dear friend replied the physician without for a moment seeking to recall anything unpleasant connected with the past. I must inform you that galvanism was the secret of the grand cure which I have affected. The letters pass on to another subject to exclaim the doctor hastily, as if considerably turning the discourse from a disagreeable topic. I've been absent for six weeks, quite a strange thing for me, who am so wedded to London, and you are one of the very first of my friends on whom I call. All day long I've been paying hurried visits to my patients, and now I come to sit a couple of hours with you. I suppose you have plenty of news for me. None of any consequence beyond the sphere of my own affairs in this place answered the black. You are, of course, aware that the Earl has made Esther an offer of his hand. To be sure, my dear friend, interrupted the cells. That engagement was contracted, you remember, two or three weeks before I left London when summoned to Brighton. But I presume that the Earl is still ignorant of all my proceedings, and he will blame the black finishing the sentence for the physician. Yes, he remains completely in the dark respecting everything. The time may, however, soon come when he shall be made acquainted with all, and then I do not think he will blame me. Far from it, cried the cells emphatically, he doubtless owes you his happiness, if not his life. For there is no telling what that miscreant old death might not have done to gratify. But for cravings for vengeance, the monster exclaimed the physician indignantly, he would even have inflicted the most terrible outrages and wrongs upon the amiable Esther and the generous old Lady Hatfield in order to wound the heart of the Earl. And yet I do not despair of reforming that man, bad as he is, observed the black, reformed the devil, cried the doctor, but I will not anticipate by any hasty opinion of mine the explanations which you are going to give me. By the by, have you had any intelligence relative to that, Mr. Torrens? Yes, answered the black, Esther received a letter from his daughter Rosamond. A few days ago the poor girl and her father were on their way to Switzerland where they intended to settle in some secluded spot. The old gentleman is worn down and spirit broken and Rosamond states that she is afraid he is oppressed with some secret care beyond those with which she is acquainted. And your man, Jefferies, settles his cells interrogatively. The next time you visit Hackney, doctor, should your professional application state you to that suburb, replied the black amour, forget not to look out for the most decent grocer's shop in Mary Street and over the door you will see the name of John Jefferies. He entered the establishment only a few days ago and I believe he is a reformed man. I tried his fidelity as well as his steadiness in many ways during the last two months. And I have every reason to entertain the best hopes relative to him at all events he has every chance of earning an honest and good living for he has purchased an old established business which Wilton previously ascertained to be a profitable concern. Have you heard or seen anything lately of our friend Sir Christopher Blunt inquired the physician laughing as he spoke. I've not seen him since that memorable night when he fulfilled the duties of a magistrate in this room answered the black smiling. But I have occasionally heard of him. He is so puffed up with pride in consequence of the importance which he derived from his adventure here that he looks upon himself as a perfect demigod. By the by I saw an advertisement in this day's paper announcing the speedy publication of the life and times of Sir Christopher Blunt by Jeremiah Licks Spittle Esquire with numerous portraits and containing a mass of interesting correspondence between the subject of the biography and the most eminent deceased men of the present century. So ran the advertisement. At which you of course laughed heartily exclaimed the doctor but here is Caesar with the wine and long enough he has been in fetching it up too. The lad made some excuse placed the decanters and glasses on the table and then withdrew. Now for the promised explanations my friend cried the physician as he helped himself to the purple juice of Bordeaux. First began the black amour I shall speak to you of the six prisoners generally or rather of my system as applied to them. My belief originally was that bad men should become to a certain extent the reformers of themselves through the medium of their own thoughts. It is not sufficient I reason within myself that criminals should be merely placed each night in a situation to think and reflect and then enjoy the light of the glorious day again. A night's meditations may be poignant and provocative of remorse of a salutary kind but when the day dawns the mind becomes hardened again and all disagreeable redactions fly away. The most guilty wretches fear not specters in the daytime tis in the darkness and silence of the night that phantoms haunt them. In a word then the natural night is not long enough to make an impression so deep that the ensuing day cannot easily obliterate it. Good exclaimed the physician I follow you attentively. These considerations resumed the black led me to the conclusion that a wicked man's thoughts could only be rendered available as a means to induce sincere repentance and excite a permanent remorse by extending their train to a long, long period. If a night of a few short hours duration would produce a very partial and limited effect upon the mind of a criminal I reasoned why not make a night of many weeks in hope for a proportionately grand and striking result. Accordingly I resolved to subject those six prisoners to the test and I will now give you a detailed account of the consequences. Proceed said the physician I am becoming deeply interested. The six prisoners were each placed in a separate cell and not allowed any light in the first instance continued the black amour. Each dungeon was plainly but comfortably furnished and every evening they were supplied with a sufficiency of food for four and twenty hours. They were ordered to perform their ablutions regularly under pain of having their meat stopped and you may be sure that they did not fail to obey the command. Twice a week the men were shaved by one of my people and twice a week also they were supplied with clean linen. The woman was of course provided with additional changes and as her health was more likely to suffer than that of the men I allowed her to walk up and down the long subterranean for two hours each day watched by Wilton so that she might not communicate with either of the prisoners but I am now about to enter on details connected with each individual. The physician drew his chair a little closer to the black. Ted Marsh was the first to jode any signs of contrition resumed the latter. He could not endure that one long endless night into which I had plunged him. A night interrupted only by the short and regular visits of myself or my people. He was ever alone with his own thoughts which no intervals of a long day broke in upon the impression created by his thoughts was ever in his mind the continuous night kept that impression there by degrees he began to see the error of his ways and when his thoughts were on one occasion intolerable and his imagination was filled with frightful images he had recourse to prayer. The next time I visited him he assured me that his prayers had relieved him but that he could not sufficiently settle his mind to pray so often as he desired. That was the moment to give this man a light and I did so. At the same time I offered him his choice between the Bible and a tale book and he chose the former with unaffected readiness had he selected the latter I should have seen that he craved for amusement only and he would have had neither lamp nor books until he had gone through a farther ordeal of his lonely thoughts in utter darkness. Well this Ted Marsh by the aid of the light was unable to study the Bible and settle his soul to prayer but a continual and unburied perusal of the Bible is calculated to render the mind morbid and convert a sinner into a grossly superstitious fanatic. Accordingly when I saw that Ted Marsh began to grow gloomy which was in a very few days I gave him books of travels and voyages and his soul was refreshed by the change. The improvement in that man was far more rapid than I could have possibly anticipated during my visits to him I tested his sincerity in a variety of ways by means of questions so artfully contrived as to admit of two kinds of answers namely one kind hypocritical and the other sincere and at the same time implying a sort of promise of release if the hypocritical reply were given. But I found him straightforward and truly conscientious in his answers in due time I allowed him to do such novels as The Vicar of Wakefield, Paul in Virginia, Elizabeth or The Exiles of Siberia to read but I found that he preferred the travels, voyages and biographies of good or great men. Indeed scarcely six weeks had elapsed from the date of that man's incarceration in the dungeon when I felt convinced that he was so far a reformed character as to be anxious to earn an honest livelihood if he were only afforded the chance. Then I removed him from his dungeon and lodged him in a room upstairs. He was still in reality a prisoner because any attempt to escape on his part would have been immediately detected so narrowly yet secretly was he watched. To him however it must have seemed that he was free but he never events the least inclination to avail himself of the apparent liberty which he enjoyed. Every circumstance spoke in that man's favor and the night before last he was sent off in company with one of my dependents to Portsmouth, whence they embarked together for the little island of Alderney where Tid Marsh is to settle in a small way of business to establish which the means will be found him. My retainer will remain for a few weeks or perhaps months so as thoroughly to watch his conduct and if during that period and in a place where there are no evil temptations, he manifests in uniform steadiness of conduct I think we may safely calculate that there is no fear of a relapse. And all this has been effected into short months exclaimed the physician with a tone and manner indicative of mingled surprise and admiration. I could scarce they have believed it possible. Listen to my next case doctor said the black and you will see that my system is most salutary. I shall speak of the two bunses collectively. The man bunts I always looked upon rather as a soft-pated and packed fool than a radically wicked fellow and accordingly the moment he began to exhibit very serious alarm and horror at being alone and in the dark I gave him a lamp and the Bible. The length of night which I made him endure was not more than two thirds of a week in respect to his wife the first demonstration of repentance which she showed was in a desire to speak to her husband if only for a few minutes and through the trap door of his cell. Of course I issued orders but the request should be complied with and it was evident that the woman derived comfort from this indulgence. Next day she was permitted to converse with him at the trap door for nearly half an hour and then she was overheard begging his pardon for the ill treatment which he had so often endured at her hands. For many many successive days this short intercourse was allowed then and on one occasion Toby Bunce read her a few verses from the Bible he being in a cell with the lamp and she standing outside his door in the dark subterranean passage. The manner in which she received the passage thus read to her induced me to order that she also should be provided with a light and a testament for the night which she endured and which could scarcely be said to have been even interrupted by the daily walk in the dark passage was just three weeks. He gave me pain, Dr. Oh it gave me pain I can assure you to punish that woman so severely but her mind was very obdurate, her heart very hardened and darkness was long before it produced on her the effect which I desired. At length a few days after she had been allowed a lamp and a little more than one month ago I yielded to her earnest and treaties that she might be lodged with her husband then what a change had taken place in her. She was tamed, completely tamed no longer a vixenish shrew but questioning her husband mildly conciliating tone relative to the passages of the Bible or the travels and other instructive books which he had read to her. Good feelings appeared to establish themselves rapidly between this couple. I had them put to several tests on one occasion Wilton persuaded Toby Bunce that he was not looking very well and some little luxury was added to the evening supply of food it being intimated that the extra dish was expressly for himself. Wilton remained near the cell to see what passed within. Bunce insisted upon sharing the delicacy with his wife and she would not hear of such a proposal. He urged his offer, she was positive and in this point she once again showed a resolution of her own but not in a manner to give her husband offence. The very next day this was a week ago I had the pair removed to a chamber overhead giving them the same apparent chance of escape as in the case of Tidmarsh however seek to avail themselves of it and yesterday evening they were separated again but only for a short time. In fact Bunce was last night sent off to Southampton accompanying with one of my people and then stay doubtless embark for the island of Sark this morning. Mrs. Bunce will leave presently guarded by my faithful dependent Harding and his wife who will not only take her to rejoin her husband in the little islet opposite Guernsey but will also stay with them there for a period of six months. Bunce will follow his trade as a tailor Harding finding a market for the clothes which he makes in St. Peter's Port which is the capital of Guernsey as you are well aware. So far so good exclaimed the physician highly delighted with these explanations showed your system produced results prominently beneficial you may become a great benefactor to the human race for it is assuredly far better to reform the wicked by a course of a few weeks training by playing upon their feelings in this manner than to subject them to the contamination of a felon's jail and inflict years of exile under circumstances which are utterly repugnant to all hopes of reformation but pray answer me one question should either of these Bunces or Tidmarsh choose to resist the control and authority of your dependence who have charged of them at present and should any one of those quasi-prisons demand their unconditional freedom how can your men exercise a power or sway over them these quasi-prisoners as you term them answered the black have not as a matter of course the least idea who I really am their minds somewhat attenuated by their incarceration and all the mysterious circumstances of their captivity are to a certain extent over odd they know that they have been and still believe themselves to be in the power of one who wields which they cannot comprehend and fear alone if no better motive therefore renders them tractable this ensures their obedience and their silence at least for the present eventually when they again become accustomed to freedom they will find themselves placed in a position to earn an honest and very comfortable livelihood care being taken to keep alive in their minds the conviction that the business which produces them their bread and enables them to live respectively only remains their own so long as they prove worthy of enjoying its advantages now my calculations and beliefs are these people who have entered upon a course of crime continue in it because it is very difficult and often impossible to leave it for honest pursuits but when once they have experienced the dreadful effects of crime and are placed in a way to act in labor honestly very few indeed would by choice relapse therefore I conclude and hope that the bounces on the one hand and to march on the other will if from mere motives of policy and convenience alone steadily continue in that honest path in which they are now placed and the advantages of which they will soon experience good again said that doctor if your calculations only applied to six criminals out of ten you would be affecting an immense good by means of your system but I hope and indeed am inclined to believe that the favor is even larger I am certain that it is answered the black amour well I now come to Timothy's splint the man who as you may remember was the actual assassin of Sir Henry Courtney if you succeed in redeeming that fellow exclaimed the physician I shall say that your system can have no exceptions stay though he cried a thought striking him I had forgotten old death my dear friend you may as well endeavor to tame the boa constrictor as to form that dreadful man you shall hear him in his turns of the black his tone assuming a slight degree of mournfulness as if he were less satisfied in respect to the application of his system to old death than in either of the other cases for the present he observed you must have patience enough to listen to certain details relative to Timothy's splint go on my dear friend cried doctor LaSales I am all attention and patience too for that matter your narrative is too interesting to be tedious Timothy's splint continued the black amour appeared to suffer more horribly from the darkness than all the others the specter of the murdered Baronette was constantly by his side and even prevented him from committing self-destruction for a whole month that his night continued and during that period he must have endured the most frightful mental tortures this was all the better such a state of mind naturally drove the man to pray and prayer relieved him I remember how touchingly although in his rude style he assured me one evening that when he prayed the specter grew less and less now notwithstanding I was well pleased to find him in this frame of mind I did not choose to encourage superstitious notions and therefore I explained to him that the only apparitions which existed were those that were conjured up by a guilty conscience at the expiration of I think exactly thirty one days I allowed this man a light and a Bible then I pursued the same treatment with him as in respect to Tidd Marsh and the Bunces I mean I gave him books of travels and voyages and moral tales he seemed very grateful not only seemed but really was and his heart-heart was melted by my kind treatment a few days ago he gave me the outlines of his early life and I found that circumstances had driven him into the ways of crime his reformation was therefore all the easier because he had a youth of innocence to look back upon and regret he moreover assured me that even with his late companion in crime Josh Pedler he had frequently spoken in mournful mood of the unhappiness which often marks the hours of men of lawless character and all these circumstances tended to give strength and consistency to his declarations that he longed deeply longed to have an opportunity of earning an honest livelihood for the future what to do with him I scarcely knew whenever I reflected on this subject I remembered that he was a murderer stained with the blood of a fellow creature and his case was therefore widely different from that of the Bunces and Tidd Marsh at length it struck me that immigration to a far distant land was the only fitting course to adopt and I proposed it to him he was rejoiced at the idea for he instantly saw how by changing his name and commencing the world anew in another sphere he should be removed from old haunts where either unpleasant reminiscences would be awakened or temptations present themselves moreover he beheld the necessity of repairing to some part of the earth where he stood no chance of being recognized by either friend or foe his consent to my proposed arrangement being best obtained and all his best hopes and feelings were firmly enlisted in the plan I had then to ascertain whether any one of my dependents would consent to accompany such a man on a long voyage and to a far off climb fortunately my inquiries amongst my retainers were followed by success and at a very early hour this morning Timothy spent in his guardian or rather companion set off for Liverpool then to embark for the United States there in the back woods of the far west would command this murderer whom the savage law would have hanged and the black amour shuddered as he pronounced the word let us hope I say that Timothy's splint will someday rise into a substantial farmer and that he may yet live to blast the period when he went through the ordeal of the subterranean dungeon the black paused and drank a glass of the cooling claret for his mouth had grown parched by the simple fact of giving utterance to that one word on which there was an emphasis the physician who appeared to guess for well what was passing in his mind made no remark and in a few moments the other continued his explanations in the ensuing manner I now come to Joshua Pedler his disposition is naturally savage and brutal and a long night of darkness produced on him effects which varied at different periods his thoughts were dreadful to him and sometimes when I visited him he would at first speak ferociously but a kind word on my part immediately reduced him to meekness he had not been many days in the dungeon when doubtless encouraged by my manner towards him he told me that he was not only unhappy on his own account but also on that of a young woman whom he had married according to the rites of the vile class with which he had so long herded I immediately undertook to provide for the girl and Pedler really demonstrated a sincere gratitude and generously be told that I kept my promise Wilton sought her out and she was found in a state of starvation and despair a comfortable lodging was taken for her and when she was somewhat restored to health needle work was supplied her but all this was done without allowing her to believe that any other circumstance beyond a mere accidental discovery of a wretched condition had thus rendered her the object of Wilton's charity the assurance which I gave Pedler provided for had a most salutary effect upon his mind although he frequently afterwards showed signs of savage impatience the tenor of his thoughts was chiefly a regret that he had been so foolish as to pursue an evil career he reproached himself for the folly of his wickedness rather than for the wickedness itself he disliked solitude and darkness but was not so much influenced by fears as his late companion splint during the first month he remained in darkness and never once spoke to me of prayer two or three times he alluded to the Bible but did not express a wish to read it at last he admitted to me his conviction that the thoughts which repressed him were beneficial to him though most unpleasant I fancied this to be a favorable opportunity to test his worthiness to receive some indulgence I accordingly asked him if he would like to be able to write to Matilda my calculation was just I touched him in a vulnerable point and he was that night allowed a lamp and writing materials moreover on that very occasion he shed tears and I no longer despaired of taming the last remnants of ferocity which lingered in his nature a few days afterwards he gave me a letter to send to Matilda of course I opened and read it for it was to obtain a precise insight into the real state of his mind that I had suggested the correspondence with his misfist so that document confirmed the hopes I already entertained of him and I saw that his affection for that young woman might be made a most humanizing means in respect to him I accordingly had her brought into this house and lodged in one of the attics then I broke to her as gently as possible the fact that Joshua Peddler was my prisoner I shall not pause to describe her joy at receiving intelligence concerning him, suffice it to say that she read his letter with eyes and gladly consented to reply to it in the evening I took her answer to the prisoner and he wept over it like a child I then knew that his reformation was a certainty two or three days afterwards he begged me to allow him a Bible and his request was of course complied with the correspondence that passed between him and Matilda was frequent and lengthy and that he might feel himself under no restraint I assured him that I neither saw his letters nor his replies it was a falser to my part but a necessary and therefore an innocent one for I did peruse all this correspondence and Matilda was aware of the fact by which I was enabled to watch the gradual but sudden change that was taking place in the mind of that man at length I perceived that I might in safety think of providing for him elsewhere and I was as much embarrassed how to accomplish this aim as I was in the case of Timothy's splint but in the midst of my bewilderment I happened to notice an advertisement in a daily newspaper stating that by a particular day two men or a man and his wife were required to undertake the care of Eddie Stone Lighthouse you may start with surprise doctor you may even smile but I assure you that this advertisement appeared most providentially to concur with the object I had in view without a moment's delay I spoke to Matilda respecting the matter and she expressed her readiness to follow my advice so long as there was a prospect of her being reunited to Josh Peddler her consent being procured it was no difficult task to obtain that of the man on the contrary he accepted the proposal with joy and thankfulness Wilton soon made the necessary inquiries and arrangements and at this moment Joshua Peddler and the young woman are the soul inmates of the Eddie Stone Lighthouse thus my dear friend said the physician counting the names of the persons upon his fingers disposed of Tidd Marsh and Alderney the bunces are to go to Sartre splint is bound as an emigrant to the far west and Joshua Peddler is on the Eddie Stone Rock and Peddler is the only one who is unaccompanied by an agent of mine observed the black because Matilda is a good young woman and I can rely upon her moreover I should tell you that I procured a license for them and Wilton saw them legally married at Plymouth before they embark for the Lighthouse I congratulate you upon the success of your projects thus far said the physician it is truly wonderful how admirably you have managed thus to redeem and is satisfactorily disposed of some of the greatest villains that ever lurked in the low dens of this metropolis but now my friend I wish to hear something of that arch-miscreant old death at this moment the door opened and one of the blacks dependence entered the room the woman Bunce Sir he said is most anxious to communicate something to you before she quits London she declares that she has a secret praying upon her mind a secret exclaimed the black yes sir a secret which she says she must reveal to you as it is too heavy for her heart to bear she cried a great deal and implored me to come to you doctor said the black amour after a few moments profound reflection you know wherefore I do not wish that woman to behold my features even though they be thus disguised during her incarceration I never spoke to her safe door and since she has been an inmate of the house I have not visited her it would be as well to continue this precaution do you then hasten to her and receive the confession whatever it be which she has to make willingly reply to the cells and he followed the servant from the room end of section 2 section 3 of mysteries of London volume 4 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org mysteries of London volume 4 by George W. M. Reynolds the conversation concluded upwards of a quarter of an hour had elapsed when Dr. LaCell's returned to the apartment in which he had left the black amour yes exclaimed the physician throwing himself into the chair which he had recently occupied that woman is indeed penitent truly penitent what proof have you acquired of this fact doctor demanded the black the confession which she has just made to me or rather the motive which induced her to make it answered LaCell's but not to keep you in suspense my dear friend she has revealed something which only confirms a suspicion that you yourself had long ago entertained if I remember right and that suspicion is relative to Jacob Smith at LaCell's ah the woman has confested exclaimed the black amour confess that Jacob Smith is her own son and that Benjamin Bones is his father replied the physician in a solemn tone my God what a parent that man has been cried the black his brows contracting and his voice indicating the emotions of horror that were suddenly excited within him the history of poor Jacob his neglected infancy his corrupted youth when I reflect that his own father was the individual who coolly and deliberately initiated him in the ways of crime just heavens I begin to think with you that the reformation of such a monster is an impossibility subdue your excitement my dear friend said the doctor converse calmly and reasonably upon these matters first then explain to me the nature of your interview with Mrs. Bunce observe the black I shall listen with earnest attention I went upstairs to the room in which she is located said LaCell's and she rose from a chair the moment I entered but she started back in evident disappointment mingled with surprise when she saw me it was not you sir she almost immediately observed that I wanted to see I know that the master of this house is of dark complexion for I have caught a glimpse of him when he has visited my dungeon below I explained to her that I was a friend of yours and that you had deputed me to receive any confession which she had to make she appeared to hesitate for a moment and then burst into tears I have been wicked very wicked sir she said in a voice broken by deep sobs and it is only very lately that I have had my eyes open to my sinful life the dark gentleman who I suppose is the master here has done this good thing for me and now he is going to provide me and my husband but I shall not go away happy unless I tell him everything that weighs on my soul I spoke a few words of comfort to her and in a few minutes she confessed that the lad who bore the name of Jacob Smith is her own son born while she was the mistress of old death and before her marriage with Bunce I informed her that Jacob was well provided for and happy and she seemed deeply grateful for this assurance then I recommended her not to reveal this secret to her husband when they should be united again in as much as having entered on a new phase of existence together it would be useless and wrong to acquaint him with a fact calculated only to disturb that harmony she promised to follow my advice and appeared much eased in mind by having bosomed her secret to me you gave her most excellent counsel doctor said the black then after a few moments reflection he added Jacob ought not to be informed of this secret of his hideous parentage at least not for the present by no means exclaimed the physician his mind is tranquil he feels a certain confidence in himself and your friendship is his greatest delight let not that salutary equanimity be disturbed no it would be wrong and useless said the black musing I remember that in the course of the long narrative which he gave me of his life he mentioned the occasional scintillations of kindness that marked the conduct of Mrs. Bunce towards him I also recollect that he observed to me how there were moments when he thought a great deal of any gentle words which she ever uttered to him or any kind treatment she ever showed him nature my dear friend nature exclaimed the good physician even in a woman so bad as she was at the time of which he spoke of certain natural yearnings which she could not altogether subdue while on his part there existed filial inclinations and tendencies which he could not understand how much that villain Benjamin Bones has to answer for alas alas I fear that he is beyond redemption cried the black bitterly but no he added immediately changed and more decided tone we must not despair I am now anxiously waiting to hear your report concerning him observed the cells he is still in darkness his night still continues was the answer a month has since I visited him for the first time in his dungeon and during the other four weeks that have subsequently passed I've had several interviews with him in the same manner these interviews have taken place in the utter obscurity of his cell and I've been constrained though with pain and difficulty to assume a feigned tone on each of those occasions at my first visit he declared in terror and amazement that he recognized in my voice something which reminded him of that of Thomas Rainford and then he seemed to be impressed with the conviction that I was the Earl of Ellingham his rage against the Earl was deep and terrible and I saw too plainly that if he relapsed into a milder tone it was but to deceive me as to the real state of his mind and induce me to grant him some indulgences if not his freedom I visited him again on the following night and he spoke less savagely and more meekly but I mistrusted him yes I mistrusted him and I fear with good grounds I cannot give you a very satisfactory description of our subsequent meetings at one moment he has appeared touched by my language and has even expressed penitence and contrition for the past at the next moment he has exhibited all the natural ferocity of his disposition sometimes he has assumed a coaxing manner and has endeavored to move me to grant him a light but I have hitherto refused one thing I must not forget to mention which is that never since the first visit I paid him has he once alluded to the impression made upon him by the sounds of my voice and never has he again addressed me as Lord Ellingham in moments of excitement or rage he has demanded in a wild and almost frantic tone who I am but seldom waiting for the reply he has relapsed either into a humor of stubborn taciturnity or of a meekness which I knew to be assumed indeed there are many points in his character and conduct and inmate of the dungeon which I cannot comprehend it is however certain that darkness has not produced on him the same rapid and important effects as upon the other five something more severe in the shape of punishment or something better calculated to touch his heart and appeal to his feelings is requisite at the same time I believe he moved and shaken in his obduracy to a certain degree but reformation in respect to him must be a work of time on the whole you have hopes said the physician interrogatively yes when I call through memory all the particulars of his conduct and language from the first occasion of my visits until the last which took place yesterday I recognize a change answered the black indeed I am almost convinced that if it were possible for me to speak to him at very great length to argue with him on the folly and wickedness of his past life to reason with him unrestrainedly I should be able to move him deeply but the necessity of maintaining an assumed tone and the impossibility of taking a light with me to watch the chantings and workings of his countenance and follow up those appeals or those arguments which appear to have most effect with him in a word the disguise I am compelled to sustain and the precautions I am forced to adopt military considerably against my system in respect to him it would be imprudent for me to visit him on your behalf on that memorable night when Lord Ellingham had him did march and Mrs Bunce in his power in an adjacent room and rested from them all the secrets of their damnable plots and schemes on that occasion you know I was present and old death would therefore cherish only ranker's feelings with regard to me true said the black musing then suddenly starting from a deep discovery of a few minutes he exclaimed doctor I thought of a plan which I hope and trust for the honor of human nature may prove efficacious in respect to that obdurate center but I hesitate yes I hesitate to put it into execution explain yourself my dear friend replied the cells and I will give you my advice candidly and frankly after continued the black amour I have such faith in the soft persuasion of woman that I am half inclined to conjure Esther de Medina to assist me in this good work would she but consent to visit this great sinner or rather to address him through the sliding panel of his dungeon door I am certain that her eloquence aided by the musical tones of her voice and the deep feeling which would arise her language I am certain I say that she would succeed in touching a chord in his heart which no words no appeal of mine can reach the physician heard with attention and began to reflect profoundly for my part continued the black amour I believe that the eloquence of woman when rightly used and properly directed is endowed with an influence most irresistible woman's mission is to tame and humanize the ferocity of man's disposition and the more antagonistic are the characters of two beings of opposite sexes thus to be brought in contact with each other the better for the purpose now decidedly no two living creatures can be more dissimilar in all respects than Benjamin Medina the former so savage and unrelenting the latter so mild and forgiving the one possessing a soul blackened by every possible crime the other endowed with every virtue that approximates the nature of woman to that of the angel I like your project I see not the least objection to it my dear friend said Dr. LaSalle after a long pause during which he pondered deeply on the plan suggested do you think that Miss Medina would consent to aid you in this matter I have no doubt of it return the black you perceive that the dilemma is somewhat serious and not slightly embarrassing I cannot allow Benjamin Bones to go forth again into the world to recommence his vile intrigues besides to give him his liberty to defeat the primary object which I had in view in breaking up his gang to release him at present is therefore impossible and I scarcely feel myself justified in keeping him locked up much longer in a dark dungeon it would be unsafe to remove him into one of the apartments of either this house or that intern mill street for such a crafty fox can alone be kept secure by massive stone walls and iron bolts what then am I to do with him how am I to dispose of him Esther will assist me in this difficulty and God send that through her agency some salutary impression may be made upon old death's mind Bear in memory exclaimed the physician an idea suddenly striking him that one of this man's horrible schemes was to avenge himself on Lord Ellingham by torturing Esther Medina and when he hears her sweet voice revealing to him her knowledge of his atrocious designs and sincerely promising him her pardon when he discovers how much virtue and goodness there is in woman continued the black in an impassioned turn he will be moved he will be led to contemplate the blackness of his own heart he will find himself placed in such frightful contrast with that forgiving angel yes yes cried the physician emphatically it must be done you have devised the only means to produce a real and effectual impression on that bad man's heart and if he proved inaccessible to the persuasiveness of Esther's tongue his case may be looked upon as hopeless the deep tone bell of Clarkinwell church now struck the hour of 11 and scarcely had the sound died away in the silence of night when a post shezz drove up to the door of the house Mrs. Bunce is now about to take her departure said the black everything is prepared in that respect Harding and his wife have already received full instructions and the necessary funds and the sooner that the woman is safe out of this mighty city of temptation the better the sounds of several footsteps were now heard descending the stairs and a minute afterwards the post shezz drove rapidly away from the house of all my prisoners old death alone remains to be disposed of observed the black as soon as the den of the wheels was no longer audible and it is to be hoped that he will not be a source of difficulty or embarrassment to you for many weeks more said the physician rising to take his departure end of section three section four of mysteries of London volume four this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org mysteries of London volume four by George W. M. Reynolds Esther Medina and old death it was on the third day after the explanations given to Dr. LaSelle's and between five and six o'clock in the evening that Esther Medina was conducted by the black Amor into the subterranean passage the latter holding a lamp in his hand shall I remain near you Esther he inquired in a whisper no it is not necessary she answered I'm not afraid of being in this place gloomy as it appears and since I'm merely to address the miserable man through the trapdoor of his dungeon no harm can reach me thus speaking she turned and received the light from her companion her manner being calm and even resolute though her countenance was very pale God bless you Esther said the black emphatically your willingness to aid me in this important matter is not the least admirable in your character it is a duty though a painful one responded the beautiful Jewess and now leave me I would rather proceed alone to the prisoner's cell remember said the black Amor it is the last on the right hand side of this long subterranean passage he then retraced his way up the stone staircase communicating with the house in red lion street while Esther danced along the gloomy cavern in which the lamp shone but with feeble luster in less than a minute she reached the door of old death's dungeon and there she paused for nearly another minute a sensation of loathing and horror preventing her from immediately announcing her presence to the terrible inmate of that cell for the black in order to prepare her as fully and completely as possible for her philanthropic mission had been compelled to reveal to her all the details of those dreadful designs which Benjamin Bones had cherished against herself and Lady Hatfield in which had been made known through the medium of John Jeffries it was therefore natural that Esther Medina should shrink from the bare idea of holding the slightest communication with a misprint of so ferocious a character but a short a very short interval of reflection was soon sufficient to arm her with the courage necessary to support the ordeal drawing back the sliding panel which covered the small aperture in the upper part of the massive door she said in her soft musical voice prisoner will you grant me your attention for a few minutes who are you demanded old death starting as if from a lethargic state a movement that was indicated by the sudden rustling of his garments and the creaking of the bed where on he was placed I am Esther de Medina was the answer and the beautiful Jewess allowed the lamp to cast its light upon her countenance which was so close to the aperture that old death caught a momentary but perfect view of her features she then placed the lamp upon the ground thus again leaving the interior of the cell in complete darkness yes it is Miss Esther de Medina exclaimed Benjamin Bones in a voice which he endeavored to render as mild and conciliatory as possible dear young lady let me out of this horrible place I am sure you possess a good heart a heart good enough to forgive you for the dreadful atrocity which you contemplated against me upwards of two months ago interrupted Esther scarce the able to subdue a shuttering sensation which came over her yes I know everything she continued you would have entrap me into your power you would have deprived me of the blessing of the sight and yet I never never interdue but you say that you forgive me quite old death and patiently open the door then my sweet young lady and I will find means to reward you well listen he exclaimed approaching the trap and speaking in a confidential kind of hollow murmuring whisper don't be offended at what I'm going to say but I know that you are fond of jewelry and it is natural for such a beautiful creature as you are silence sir interrupted Esther indignantly I'm well aware to what you allude and it is time to un-deceive you on that head she added in a proud tone indeed there is no longer any necessity for concealment in that respect in my turn I desire you to listen and listen attentively you entertain I believe so prejudicial to my character that I cannot allow even such an one as you to cherish it another minute know then that I have a sister so like myself in outward appearance by Satan it must be so ejaculated old death a light breaking in upon his mind as in a single moment he took a rapid survey of all the circumstances which had originally let him to suppose that Esther was the thief of Mr. Gordon's diamonds and the mistress of Tom Rain yes yes I understand it all now he added in a tone that appeared to imply vexation at his former blindness in respect to these matters with pain and sorrow and I thus compelled to allude to a sister who is so dear so very dear to me presumed Esther but this explanation was necessary not only for my own sake but likewise to convince you of the folly and wickedness of endeavoring to induce me by the promise of reward or bribe to draw back the bolts of your prison door know my visit to you is inspired by the earnest desire to move your soul to the contemplation of all the dreadful deeds which have marked your life then you will not set me free exclaimed old death in a tone of subdued rage and latent ferocity not now not now repeated Esther but listen to me attentively go on growl the inmate of the dungeon as he retreated from the door and threw himself upon his bed again if you entertain the slightest hope that you will ever be allowed an opportunity to re-enter on a course of wickedness and crime you are sadly mistaken continued Esther speaking in our conciliatory and yet energetic tone even where you liberated this moment measures would be adopted to render you completely powerless for the future in respect to the perpetuation of fresh enormities reflect then whether it will not be better for you to devote your days and in the ordinary course of nature they must necessarily be few to the important duty of making your peace with heaven do not despair pardon oh no do not despair you see that I who am a mortal being can forgive you for the wrongs you meditated against me and surely the mercy of heaven is greater than that of human creatures yes repent ere it be too late and God will not cast you off eternally his mercy is infinite his pardon is never asked in vain by the penitent sinner continue to speak to me thus cried old death in a tone strangely subdued and wondrously meek considering the ferocious excitement which so lately animated him oh I sincerely hope that you will recognize the error of your ways ere it be indeed too late exclaimed Esther in a tone of enthusiasm deeply felt by her generous soul consider your advanced stage and think how soon the hand of death may be laid upon you then how wretched how awful would your feelings be and how would you shudder at the idea of being about to stand in the presence of that almighty power whose laws and states you have so often violated for after all what have you gained by your long long career of wickedness or your treasures were annihilated in one hour yes yes interrupted old death in a voice have suffocated with emotions which the Jewish fondly believed to be those of remorse the hoardings of many years and the produce of innumerable misdeeds were thus swept away she continued impressively and providence at length decreed that you should become a prisoner in the very place where you had so long ruled as a master does not heaven then afford you solemn and significant warnings that your career of crime is no more to be pursued with success and do not those warnings move your heart to repentance and remorse neglect not such warnings as these you your words do me good young lady explained old death I am glad that you have come thus to speak to me and shall you ponder upon what I have said she demanded yes but you will not leave me yet and you will come again he said in a voice indicative of suspense and anxiety relative to the answer that was to be given I will return tomorrow I have served Esther thank you exclaimed old death his tone now denoting a profound emotion but Esther did not immediately leave the vicinity of the cell on the present occasion believing that she had succeeded in making some salutary impression upon him she was desirous of following up the promising commencement of her mission and she accordingly continued to reason with him nearly half an hour longer in the course of the observations and arguments which she addressed to the ancient center she displayed a sound judgment and a deep but enlightened religious feeling there was nothing bigoted nothing fanatical in her language she indulged in no quotations from the old testament the book that formed the basis of her own nations creed but she expatiated on the goodness of the creator the hope that exists for penitent sinners the terrors of a death bed without previous repentance and the folly as well as the wickedness of the course already pursued by the prisoner old death interrupted Herbert Seldon and when he did interject an observation it was in a tone and of a nature calculated to inspire the charmingness with the hope that her mission had not been undertaken in vain at length she quitted the vicinity of the cell having reiterated her promise to return on the following day and this pledge was faithfully kept and again do we find the Hebrew maiden persevering in her humane her noble task of awakening proper feelings in the breast of a terrible sinner to her question whether he had meditated upon his spiritual condition old death replied earnestly and eagerly in the affirmative and throughout this second visit he not only sought to retain the young lady near him or rather at his door as long as possible but likewise seem sincere in his endeavors to inspire her with the belief that her reasoning and her representations had not been thrown away upon him on the third day Esther fancied that there was even a still more striking change in his language when he responded to her questions or her remarks and not once during the hour that she remained standing outside his dungeon addressing him in a style of fervent eloquence which came from her very heart not once we say did he give the least sign of that ferocity and savage impatience which raised his behavior on the first occasion of her visit for fortnight did the Hebrew maiden continue her visits regularly without however venturing to enter the dungeon on the 15th day she found the prisoner anxiously expecting her arrival as usual and almost immediately after she had drawn aside the panel and announced her presence he said oh dear young lady I am so I've been thinking so much so very much over all you have lately told me and I felt comforted by repeating to myself the arguments you advance urging me to repentance I miss I've been a dreadful sinner a dreadful sinner and I see that I am righteously punished but though I am penitent you have no confidence in me yet and that gives me pain you are afraid to trust yourself with me do you think that I would harm you I hope not replied Esther and you shall not much longer have to accuse me of want of confidence in you I am pleased to observe that you at length feel how shocking it is to become an object of mistrust and suspicion you are an angel young lady exclaimed Benjamin bones approaching the door on the outer side of which stood the Hebrew maiden no one save yourself could have made such an impression upon my mind and in so short a time but will you promise me one thing name your request said Esther that you will not send any man to converse with me answered old death you are of the gentle sex and that is why your sweet voice has had such power and influence with me had that gentleman whoever he is continued to visit me he would have no good I suspect my own sex I do not think that men can be so sincere so conscientious the gentleman to whom you allude will not visit you again without your consent interrupted Esther I have undertaken this mission and will fulfill it to the utmost of my ability I have now something important to communicate important indeed I should imagine to one who has been so long in darkness in a word I have come to give you a lamp oh excellent young lady cried Benjamin bones in a voice expressive of the most unfaigned joy make haste and open the door give me the light nay I must not manifest too much confidence in you all at once see what it is to have been so long the votery of crime and wickedness you inspire a mistrust which cannot be dissipated in a moment what can I do to convince my penitence my gratitude demanded old death in an earnest anxious tone leave me to judge for myself relative to your state of mind said Esther you perceive that I already begin to entertain hopes concerning you the proof is that I now give you a lamp and a book also if you have a sincere inclination to examine its pages as she uttered these words Esther unfastened the grading which covered the aperture and passed the lamp through to old death then the volume to which she had alluded the light flashed upon his countenance as he received the lamp and it struck Esther that there was something hideous even in the expression of joy which now animated those repulsive features but she knew that looks which had grown sinister and become stamped with this menace during the lapse of many many years could not be changed nor improved in a moment however great were the moral reformation that had taken place within thanks dear young lady a thousand thanks exclaimed old death as he placed the lamp upon the table then after a few minutes pause during which he looked into the book he said in a tone of surprise but you have brought me a Bible containing the new the Old Testament and yet yourself only believe in the latter I respect the religion of the Christian although I have been taught to put no faith in it answered Esther the Medina in a modest and subdued tone but I must now depart and tomorrow I shall visit you again Esther withdrew in the firm belief that most salutary impression had been made upon the mind of one of the greatest criminals of modern times her report was received with the most heartfelt joy by the Blackamore and he was enthusiastic in his expressions of gratitude towards the beautiful maiden for her exertions and what may unaffectedly be denominated a good cause do you return to finchly manner with me this evening she asked cutting short his compliments with a good humored smile no I have particular business to attend to Esther he replied but you may tell a certain young lady he added now smiling in his turn that I should be sure to see her tomorrow evening tomorrow repeated Esther you forget I did indeed forget interrupted the Black tomorrow is the day on which Arthur returns to town and I must not risk a visit to the manner the fortnight of his absence has soon expired me thinks but doubtless in that time he has made all the necessary preparation to render his country seat in Kent fitting and comfortable to receive his bride observe the Black smiling again they do not blush Esther he is a noble fellow and well deserving of all your love and by the by this absence on his part has proved most serviceable in one sense he continued again assuming a serious tone for had he remained in town you never would have been able to devote the time you have given each day to the reformation of that wretched man below to speak handedly observed Esther I foresee a considerable difficulty relative to my future visits to the unhappy prisoner but I fear to mention my embarrassment in this respect I fancy that you might suppose me to be worried of the task I had undertaken I know you too well to entertain an injurious suspicion interrupted the black hastily and emphatically but it is natural now that Arthur and yourself are so shortly to be united that he should seek your society as often and for as long a period each day as circumstances will permit yes observed Esther without modest blush and though his welfare is so deeply interested in our present enterprise though in a word so many grave and important interests depend upon the success of our endeavors to humanize and reform that wretched prisoner and disarm him for the future still I could not stoop to any false it or subterfuge to account to the Earl of Ellingham for my daily absence from home for several hours it is true that my father is in the secret of our proceedings that he even approved of the course which you suggested and which I have adopted stay an idea strikes me suddenly ejaculated the black you told me air now that Benjamin Bones implored you to continue your visits to him and not allow me to take your place and from this circumstance we have both drawn favorable argues relative to his ultimate and complete repentance he already looks upon you as his guardian angel the means of his salvation and it would be perhaps productive of evil results would even lead to a moral reaction on his part where he to believe that you had deserted him you have so well prepared the way in the grand work of reformation with regard to this man that another might now undertake your duties and Benjamin Bones would still continue to believe that it is the same as to the Medina who visits him I understand you said the Hebrew maiden evidently rejoiced at a suggestion which relieved from the fear of a serious difficulty but would you be satisfied with such an arrangement I see no alternative replied the black author will call daily at Finchley Manor and your frequent absence would to say the least of it appear strange oh where for not allow Arthur at once to be made acquainted with the whole crew demanded Esther in an earnest and appealing manner no no be exclaimed the black Amor my projects must first be carried out to the very end for would be my pride in my triumph when all danger shall have passed away to say to him Arthur you were surrounded by perils which you did not suspect demons were plotting every kind of atrocity against your peace and I've annihilated all their schemes and tame the schemers themselves urge me not therefore my dear Esther to deviate from the course which I have chalked out for myself and which I consider to be to some extent an atonement for the misdeeds of my own life yes for he who accomplishes a great good assuredly expiates a great amount of evil for heaven's sake recur not to the past murmur the beautiful Jewish turning pale and shuddering at the crowd of unpleasant awful reminiscences which your companions language recall to remind no let us deliberate only for the present exclaim the black and the more I think of the plan which I have suggested the more suitable does it appear yes he continued this is the only alternative that your business to Benjamin bone sees Esther and yet let him still continue to believe that he is not neglected nor deserted by Miss Medina I need say no more the rest lies with you return the Hebrew maiden and it shall be as you desire she then took her departure in the section for