nd books, on which
lay the long, white wand of the sheriff. The men standing by the side of
the sheriff were two doctors, one of medicine, the other of law; the
latter recognizable by the Serjeant's coif over his wig. Both wore black
robes--one of the shape worn by judges, the other by doctors.

Men of these kinds wear mourning for the deaths of which they are the
cause.

Behind the sheriff, at the edge of the flat stone under the seat, was
crouched--with a writing-table near to him, a bundle of papers on his
knees, and a sheet of parchment on the bundle--a secretary, in a round
wig, with a pen in his hand, in the attitude of a man ready to write.

This secretary was of the class called keeper of the bag, as was shown
by a bag at his feet.

These bags, in former times employed in law processes, were termed bags
of justice.

With folded arms, leaning against a pillar, was a man entirely dressed
in leather, the hangman's assistant.

These men seemed as if they had been fixed by enchantment in their
funereal postures round the chained man. None of them spoke or moved.

There brooded over all a fearful calm.

What Gwynplaine saw was a torture chamber. There were many such in
England.

The crypt of Beauchamp Tower long served this purpose, as did also the
cell in the Lollards' prison. A place of this nature is still to be seen
in London, called "the Vaults of Lady Place." In this last-mentioned
chamber there is a grate for the purpose of heating the irons.

All the prisons of King John's time (and Southwark Jail was one) had
their chambers of torture.

The scene which is about to follow was in those days a frequent one in
England, and might even, by criminal process, be carried out to-day,
since the same laws are still unrepealed. England offers the curious
sight of a barbarous code living on the best terms with liberty. We
confess that they make an excellent family party.

Some distrust, however, might not be undesirable. In the case of a
crisis, a return to the penal code would not be impossible. English
legislation is a tamed tiger with a velvet paw, but the claws are still
there. Cut the claws of the law, and you will do well. Law almost
ignores right. On one side is penalty, on the other humanity.
Philosophers protest; but it will take some time yet before the justice
of man is assimilated to the justice of God.

Respect for the law: that is the English phrase. In England they
venerate so many laws, tha