Gray. Spare! and why should I spare? Hasn’t she wirled, despised me? isn’t she Mrs. Lucy Gwinett, the wife of the murderer, Gwinett? hasn’t she spoken words that pierced me through and through? and why should I spare?—Felon, you know your sentence; come, let me measure you for the irons, that—
Gwin. Wretch! heartless ruffian!
[As Grayling approaches Gwinett, he seizes the rod of iron held by Grayling, and they struggle—Gwinett throws Grayling down, and is about to strike him with the iron, when the prison bell tolls, Gwinett’s arm falls paralyzed; Grayling looks at him with malicious joy; Lucy sinks on her knees, raising her hands to heaven. At this moment, a cry is set up without, “a reprieve! a reprieve!”—Officer, and neighbours enter. L. Grayling springing on his feet, tears the paper from the Officer’s hand, Lucy at the same time exclaims, “A reprieve! say—for Ambrose!”
Gray. (eagerly.) The murderer’s fate is—
Offi. Death!
[The prison bell again tolls, Lucy falls to the earth, Gwinett sinks into a state of stupifaction, Grayling looks at him with an air of triumph; characters at the back lift their hands imploringly to heaven, and the Scene closes.—End of Act II.
ACT III.
SCENE I.—The Blake’s Head.
Enter Gilbert and Jenny, as landlord and landlady. L.