“Yes,” responded the executioner. “It’s true he shivered a bit; but not through fear. It was a bitter winter’s morning, and he complained of the cold.”
“It is not surprising,” I said, “that a man like Peace, who has been face to face with danger so often should endeavour to die without betraying any weakness or timidity.”
“The bravery was an outcome of his nature,” replied Marwood. “He was ignorant alike of weakness and timidity. I will prove it to you. He had been suffering from a bad cough for some days. The night before his execution he said to one of his warders, ‘I wonder whether Mr. Marwood can cure this bad cough of mine?’ The warder replied, ‘I have no doubt he could.’ And I can tell you that a man who jokes about getting hanged to cure a cough is no coward.’
“Do you think he suffered much?” I asked.
“Not in the least; he was dead instantly. But perhaps I had better tell you what occurred just before the execution.
“It is a most curious thing. He had got hold of the idea that I should terribly punish him at the scaffold, and he repeatedly asked the chief warder to be sure and tell me that he wished for an interview about a quarter of as hour before he was led out to die.
“Accordingly at ten minutes to eight o’clock I went to the condemned cell, which stands about in the centre of the gaol, some hundred yards from the place where the scaffold was erected. Peace was seated—he was in his convict dress, and there were several officials attending upon him. The bandage had been removed from his head; and he did not wear spectacles.
“He was neither weak nor prostrate, but sat upright on his chair, as if he had never known a moment’s illness. When I appeared in the doorway he seemed pleased, and holding out his hand said, ‘I am glad to see you, Mr. Marwood. I wish to have a word with you. I do hope you will not punish me. I hope you will do your work quickly.’
“‘You shall not suffer pain from my hand,’ I replied; and then Peace, grasping my arm, said, ‘God bless you. I hope to meet you all in Heaven. I am thankful to say my sins are all forgiven.’
“It was now time to pinion him,” continued the executioner. “He stood up at my request, but did not really need the support of the two warders by his side. He was not at all nervous, and quietly submitted to my operations. Pinioning is a very ingenious process.