‘I will take especial care that they do not;’ returned Jenkins with a sarcastic grin.’
‘My life will at any time be in your hands,’ added the poor, trembling coward; ‘should I again break my word, Jenkins, I beg of you, I supplicate to you, in the most humble manner do not doom me yet to death!’
‘Despicable scoundrel!’ ejaculated Jenkins; ‘so dead to the sufferings of others; and yet so fearful of suffering himself. Wretch! you deserve to die the death of a dog, and you will do so.’
Blodget groaned and covered his face with his hands.
‘Prepare yourself to depart from here in my custody to-morrow night,’ said Jenkins, as he moved towards the door of the cell.
‘Whither, Jenkins, and for what purpose? Oh, tell me! tell me!’ entreated Blodget, his whole frame violently convulsed with the power of his emotions. Jenkins looked at him for a moment in silence, and then replied,—
‘You will know soon; at present I shall leave you to form your own conjectures, and to ask your conscience what ought to be your destiny.’
‘Stay, Jenkins, I beseech you!’ cried the unfortunate prisoner, in delirious accents; but Jenkins had immediately quitted the cell, and securing the door was quickly far out of hearing.
‘inquire whether Miss Inez will do me the favor to grant me an interview,’ said Jenkins, addressing himself to Gordon, soon after he had entered the parlor, after he quitted the place in which Blodget was confined.
Gordon, without offering any observation, hastened to do as he was bid, and quickly returned with an answer in the affirmative. Jenkins then hurried up stairs, and knocking at the door, was ushered into the presence of Inez.