“The strength of the prison is a hard material fact that I cannot deny; the vigilance of its officers is also very evident to the most casual observer; but their incorruptibility—bah! Voltaire, or Solomon, or Robinson Crusoe, or somebody said, that every man could be bought if you’d only pay him his own price! Now, how do you know that the officers are incorruptible? Is anybody perfect? Are you? The only question is, have you money enough to bribe the gaoler to favor her escape?”
“I do not think I have. For I do not think that any sum would bribe him.”
“You do not half love her! But how much money have you got?” inquired Annella, with eager interest.
Malcolm paused a moment, and then answered:
“I could raise five thousand pounds.”
“La! why that would buy an archbishop or a prime minister, much more a poor provincial gaoler!”
“You have a bad opinion of human nature.”
“Got a right to. The only human being with whom I am intimately acquainted—and that’s myself—I know deserves to be put in a pillory; and all the rest except a few ought to be hung! But try the gaoler with the offer of five thousand pounds. That sum will be an irresistible inducement to a man in his circumstances—especially if you can convince him of what I believe to be the truth—that he will be doing a meritorious act in assisting the escape of an innocent girl.”
“Really, your reasoning has a certain plausibility in it. ‘The drowning catch at straws,’ and I am inclined to seize upon your idea. What is the plan of escape that you wish that the gaoler should be brought to favor?”
“I said bought to favor! Oh, it is a very simple one. I go to the prison closely veiled. I propose to change dress with Eudora, and let her walk out in my gown, mantle, bonnet, and veil, while the gaoler, upon some pretence or another draws off the warders to some other part of the building, so that she can pass out uninterruptedly. And you could have a close carriage somewhere near, put her into it, and drive at once to the sea-coast, where you must have a fishing-smack already hired to take her away. Meanwhile, when they come to look for her, they find me!”