ontents
of my pockets. Having passed nearly all my money to Mr. Wheeler, I
had little to deposit. Some prisoners, however, are less careful. The
officer told me that he occasionally received as much as ten or twelve
pounds from one visitor, although the majority were almost penniless. My
small change was carefully counted by us both, and when it was stowed in
my purse, I put my signature under the amount in the register.

Then followed my other belongings. I had stupidly brought a bunch of
keys, which the officer eyed very suspiciously. Keys in a prison!
The official mind might well be alarmed. Next came some letters and
telegrams I had received while in Court, and a lead pencil, which I took
from my breast-pocket.

"Anything more in that pocket?" said the officer, catching hold of the
coat-lappet, and attempting to insert his hand.

"I beg pardon," I replied, disengaging his hand and stepping back; "I
can do that myself. See!" I said, turning my pocket inside out.

He was satisfied, but slightly annoyed. The man was simply doing his
duty, and I daresay he showed me far more courtesy than other prisoners
were treated with. Yet the process of searching is unspeakably
revolting, and I shrank from it instinctively; taking care, however, by
my rapid gestures to render it unnecessary.

Prisoners are regularly searched in Holloway Gaol, as well as in other
penal establishments; and being under the ordinary prison regulations,
like other "convicted criminals," I was of course subjected to the
indignity. I must in candor admit that the officers made it as little
offensive as possible in my case; yet the touch of a man's hand about
one's person is so repulsive, that I always had great difficulty in
suppressing my indignation. If an officer owes a prisoner a grudge, he
is able (especially if the man is a little more refined than the general
run of his associates) to render the searching an almost intolerable
infliction. Sometimes the prisoners are stripped to their drawers or
shirts, without any particular reason; and the process can even be
carried farther, until they are in a state of complete nudity. On one
occasion this experiment was attempted on me, but I declined to submit
to it, and the brace of officers (they always search in pairs, to
prevent collusion) shrank from employing force.

All the requisite formalities being transacted, I was supplied with
a pair of sheets and a duster; and carrying these on my arm, I wa