, I presumed, our driver. His talk was
of horses and drinking, and I wondered how he obtained the money
to purchase all the liquors which he boasted of having imbibed that
morning. He seemed to possess a sort of right divine to enjoyment on
this earth, and I felt strongly tempted to offer him the few shillings
I had in my pocket. The money was useless to me in prison, but it
would serve as buoyant air to the wings of this human butterfly. What a
contrast between our lots! His head was untroubled with thought, he knew
nothing of convictions (except legal ones), and sacrifices for principle
had probably never entered within the range of his imagination. He
chattered away like a garrulous daw, perched upon the step; while we
three in the van were just leaving the sunlight of life for the darkness
of imprisonment. Our devotion to principle seemed almost folly, and our
passion for reforming the world a species of madness. So it must have
appeared eighteen centuries ago, when the Prophet of Nazareth stood
in the hall of a palace in Jerusalem. The men and damsels who warmed
themselves at the fire must have marvelled at the infatuation of Jesus
as he courted the shadow of death.

When "Black Maria" disgorged her breakfast, we were ushered into the
great hall of Holloway prison. The Deputy-Governor at once accosted
us, and told us to wait, standing against the wall, until he could
"see about us." Forgetting the rules and regulations, we resumed our
conversation, until we attracted the attention of an underling, who
marched up with a lordly air and sternly ordered us to stop talking.
Presently two figures leisurely descended the flight of stone steps
leading to the offices and the interior of the prison. I recognised one
of these as the Governor of Newgate. He had evidently come to introduce
us. His companion was Colonel Milman, the Governor of Holloway. After a
few minutes' conversation, of which I inferred from their looks that we
were the object, they parted, and Colonel Milman then advanced
towards us with a genial smile. He busied himself about us in the most
hospitable manner, as though we were ornaments to the establishment.
Interrogating us as to our occupations, he found that only Mr. Ramsey
was acquainted with any mechanical work. In his younger days he had
practised the noble art of St. Crispin, but he found that no shoes were
made in the place, and he had little taste for cobbling. Relying on
some information he had r