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should I have？ You are not in my service。’
‘Muster Gashford；’ remonstrated Dennis； ‘we belong to the
cause； don’t we？’
‘The cause！’ repeated the secretary； looking at him in a sort of
abstraction。 ‘There is no cause。 The cause is lost。’
‘Lost！’
‘Oh yes。 You have heard； I suppose？ The petition is rejected by
a hundred and ninety…two； to six。 It’s quite final。 We might have
spared ourselves some trouble。 That； and my lord’s vexation； are
the only circumstances I regret。 I am quite satisfied in all other
respects。’
As he said this； he took a penknife from his pocket； and putting
his hat upon his knee； began to busy himself in ripping off the blue
cockade which he had worn all day； at the same time humming a
psalm tune which had been very popular in the morning； and
dwelling on it with a gentle regret。
His two adherents looked at each other； and at him； as if they
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were at a loss how to pursue the subject。 At length Hugh； after
some elbowing and winking between himself and Mr Dennis；
ventured to stay his hand； and to ask him why he meddled with
that riband in his hat。
‘Because；’ said the secretary； looking up with something
between a snarl and a smile； ‘because to sit still and wear it； or to
fall asleep and wear it； is a mockery。 That’s all； friend。’
‘What would you have us do； master！’ cried Hugh。
‘Nothing；’ returned Gashford； shrugging his shoulders；
‘nothing。 When my lord was reproached and threatened for
standing by you； I； as a prudent man； would have had you do
nothing。 When the soldiers were trampling you under their horses’
feet； I would have had you do nothing。 When one of them was
struck down by a daring hand； and I saw confusion and dismay in
all their faces； I would have had you do nothing—just what you
did； in short。 This is the young man who had so little prudence and
so much boldness。 Ah！ I am sorry for him。’
‘Sorry； master！’ cried Hugh。
‘Sorry； Muster Gashford！’ echoed Dennis。
‘In case there should be a proclamation out to…morrow； offering
five hundred pounds； or some such trifle； for his apprehension；
and in case it should include another man who dropped into the
lobby from the stairs above；’ said Gashford； coldly； ‘still； do
nothing。’
‘Fire and fury； master！’ cried Hugh； starting up。 ‘What have we
done； that you should talk to us like this！’
‘Nothing；’ returned Gashford with a sneer。 ‘If you are cast into
prison； if the young man—’ here he looked hard at Barnaby’s
attentive face—‘is dragged from us and from his friends； perhaps
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Barnaby Rudge 540
from people whom he loves； and whom his death would kill； is
thrown into jail； brought out and hanged before their eyes； still； do
nothing。 You’ll find it your best policy； I have no doubt。’
‘Come on！’ cried Hugh； striding towards the door。 ‘Dennis—
Barnaby—come on！’
‘Where？ To do what？’ said Gashford； slipping past him； and
standing with his back against it。
‘Anywhere！ Anything！’ cried Hugh。 ‘Stand aside； master； or the
window will serve our turn as well。 Let us out！’
‘Ha ha ha！ You are of such—of such an impetuous nature；’ said
Gashford； changing his manner for one of the utmost good
fellowship and the pleasantest raillery； ‘you are such an excitable
creature—but you’ll drink with me before you go？’
‘Oh； yes—certainly；’ growled Dennis； drawing his sleeve across
his thirsty lips。 ‘No malice； brother。 Drink with Muster Gashford！’
Hugh wiped his heated brow； and relaxed into a smile。 The
artful secretary laughed outright。
‘Some liquor here！ Be quick； or he’ll not stop； even for that。 He
is a man of such desperate ardour！’ said the smooth secretary；
whom Mr Dennis corroborated with sundry nods and muttered
oaths—‘Once roused； he is a fellow of such fierce determination！’
Hugh poised his sturdy arm aloft； and clapping Barnaby on the
back； bade him fear nothing。 They shook hands together—poor
Barnaby evidently possessed with the idea that he was among the
most virtuous and disinterested heroes in the world—and
Gashford laughed again。
‘I hear；’ he said smoothly； as he stood among them with a great
measure of liquor in his hand； and filled their glasses as quickly
and as often as they chose； ‘I hear—but I cannot say whether it be
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true or false—that the men who are loitering in the streets to…night
are half disposed to pull down a Romish chapel or two； and that
they only want leaders。 I even heard mention of those in Duke
Street； Lincoln’s Inn Fields； and in Warwick Street； Golden
Square； but common report； you know—You are not going？’
—‘To do nothing； master； eh？’ cried Hugh。 ‘No jails and halter
for Barnaby and me。 They must be frightened out of that。 Leaders
are wanted； are they？ Now boys！’
‘A most impetuous fellow！’ cried the secretary。 ‘Ha ha！ A
courageous； boisterous； most vehement fellow！ A man who—’
There was no need to finish the sentence； for they had rushed
out of the house； and were far beyond hearing。 He stopped in the
middle of a laugh； listened； drew on his gloves； and； clasping his
hands behind him； paced the deserted room for a long time； then
bent his steps towards the busy town； and walked into the streets。
They were filled with people； for the rumour of that day’s
proceedings had made a great noise。 Those persons who did not
care to leave home； were at their doors or windows； and one topic
of discourse prevailed on every side。 Some reported that the riots
were effectually put down； others that they had broken out again：
some said that Lord George Gordon had been sent under a strong
guard to the Tower； others that an attempt had been made upon
the King’s life； that the soldiers had been again called out； and that
the noise of musketry in a distant part of the town had been
plainly heard within an hour。 As it grew darker； these stories
became more direful and mysterious； and often； when some
frightened passenger ran past with tidings that the rioters were
not far off； and were coming up； the doors were shut and barred；
lower windows made secure； and as much consternation
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engendered； as if the city were invaded by a foreign army。
Gashford walked stealthily about； listening to all he heard； and
diffusing or confirming； whenever he had an opportunity； such
false intelligence as suited his own purpose； and； busily occupied
in this way； turned into Holborn for the twentieth time； when a
great many women and children came flying along the street—
often panting and looking back—and the confused murmur of
numerous voices struck upon his ear。 Assured by these tokens；
and by the red light which began to flash upon the houses on
either side； that some of his friends were indeed approaching； he
begged a moment’s shelter at a door which opened as he passed；
and running with some other persons to an upper window； looked
out upon the crowd。
They had torches among them； and the chief faces were
distinctly visible。 That they had been engaged in the de