"Bring him out!" cried a hundred voices. "Out with him! Todd—Todd! We want Todd."
There was then such a furious hammering at the doors of the court, that it was quite impossible to hear what any one said. Sir Richard Blunt suddenly appeared on the bench, and leaning over to the judge, he said—
"My lord, I am collecting a force with which I shall be able to clear the entrances to the court."
"I wish you would, Sir Richard. This riot is most disgraceful."
"It is, my lord; but it shall be suppressed now with as much speed as may be."
With this, Sir Richard immediately retired. He collected together a force of fifty constables, and forming them into a sort of wedge, he suddenly opened a side door, and attacked the mob. The fight, for a hand-to-hand fight it now was, did not last more than ten minutes, when the mob gave way, and "every one for himself" became the cry. In five minutes more the party of officers had possession of all the avenues to the court, and a profound silence succeeded to the riot that had taken place.
"I think now," said the judge "we may proceed to business. This riot has been a most disgraceful one, and if the officers will bring any one before me who has taken part in it, I will commit him to prison at once."
"They are all dispersed, my lord," said Sir Richard.
"The court thanks you, sir," said the judge. "Let the proceedings commence at once."
Todd now glared about him, and his lips kept moving as though he were repeating something to himself in a whisper. The Governor of Newgate leant forward, and said—