His absence was a relief to the others. These did not come there to utter sense in fun but to jest in sober earnest.
Mr. Williams hinted as much, and Hawes, whose cue it was to assent in everything to the justices, brightened his face up at the remark.
“Will you visit the cells, gentlemen,” said he, with an accent of cordial invitation, “or inspect the book first?”
They gave precedence to the latter.
By the book was meant the log-book of the jail. In it the governor was required to report for the justices and the Home Office all jail events a little out of the usual routine. For instance, all punishments of prisoners, all considerable sicknesses, deaths and their supposed causes, etc., etc.
“This Josephs seems by the book to be an ill-conditioned fellow; he is often down for punishment.”
“Yes! he hates work. About Gillies, sir—ringing his bell and pretending it was an accident?”
“Yes! how old is he?”
“Thirteen.”
“Is this his first offense?”