Before they left though, Todd had the horror of hearing a great confusion of voices in the passage, and in a few moments one of the waiters came into the room, quite bursting with his news.
"Gentlemen," he said, "the notorious Todd, and a man named Lupin, who was a murderer likewise, have escaped from Newgate!"
"Escaped?" said Lupin. "You don't say so?"
"Dear me, when?" said Todd.
"Last night, gentlemen, last night; and—coming—coming!"
The waiter was compelled to leave the room, as a bell rung violently.
"Let us go," said Todd.
"Yes, I think, now that the news has reached here, it will be wise to do so."
"Come along, then."
Todd rose in a moment; but Lupin in a whisper strictly cautioned him not to show any symptoms of hurry or alarm; and he was so far master of himself to see the necessity of such a caution, so that they both got safely out of the Gate-House Tavern, and took the route to Hampstead by Swains Lane, without having anything said to them.