The voice ceased: a sudden sensation ran through the crowd like an electric shock;—and the Earl of Ellingham groaned deeply—groaned in the bitterness of his spirit,—for he knew that the drop had just fallen!
"Compose yourself, my dear friend," whispered the physician: "for now is the time to arm yourself with all your energies!"
"Thanks, doctor—a thousand thanks for reminding me of my duty," said the Earl. "But this is most trying—most horribly trying! I have lived a hundred years of agony in the last few minutes!"
"Hope for the best, my dear Earl," rejoined the physician. "Do you think that he fully understood you——"
"He did—I am convinced of it!" replied Arthur, anxious to argue himself out of all doubts as well as to convince his companion. "He received the silver tube, and I saw him conceal it in his sleeve. But, alas! we had no opportunity to speak alone—though I had so much to say to him—so many explanations to give—such numerous questions to ask——My God! if after all, this plan should fail!"
"If that boy Jacob will only follow my instructions to the very letter," answered Lascelles, "I do not despair of success!"
"Oh! he will—he will!" returned the young nobleman, as he glanced towards the hearse. "He is as intelligent as he is attached to my dear brother!"
The railings in front of the gaol kept the crowd at a considerable distance from the mourning vehicles; and thus the observations which passed between the Earl and the physician were not heard by any save themselves.
And now how languidly—how slowly passed the interval of twenty minutes during which the Sheriff had stated that the body must remain suspended.
To the Earl it seemed as if each minute were a year—as if he were living twenty years in those twenty minutes!