“Thank you very much, Jackson—very much indeed,” said the lawyer, with a flourish of his huge yellow silk pocket-handkerchief. “I give you my word of honour that it’s nothing less than a case of life and death.”
The little low-browed side-door had been opened by this time, and Mr. Hoskyns went in, followed by Jabez Creede carrying the bag of papers. Creede had accompanied his employer to the gaol several times before, and his face was well known to the warders.
“I can only ask that, under the circumstances, you will make your visit as short a one as possible; and I hope, with all my heart, that you will be able to extricate Mr. Dering from his difficulty.”
“Jackson, you may take my word for it,” said Hoskyns, seriously, “that, before to-morrow night at this time, Mr. Dering will be a free man.”
“I am heartily glad to hear it, sir, and I wish you a very good-night.”
“Great heaven! Hoskyns, what has brought you here at this uncanny hour?” exclaimed Lionel, starting up from his pallet, on which he had thrown himself without undressing, as the lawyer and Creede were ushered into his cell and the door locked behind them.
“I have got great tidings for you, Mr. Dering. Splendid tidings!” said Hoskyns, as he took the bag from Creede. “But sit down, sir, and don’t excite yourself, because I shall require your very best care and attention during the next few minutes.” Speaking thus, he took off his broad-brimmed hat and deposited it tenderly on Lionel’s bed; then he drew a chair up to the little deal table, motioned Lionel to take the opposite chair, and Creede to take the third and only remaining one. The latter gentleman, either from innate modesty, or because he was afraid that his breath might smell too strongly of rum, took care to plant himself a yard or two away from the table.
“Yes, sir, some splendid news—something that will astonish the world to-morrow,” continued the lawyer, as he dived into his bag, and fished therefrom a carefully folded sheet of foolscap. “Read that, Mr. Dering—read that carefully through,” he said, as he handed the paper in question to Lionel. “But, above all things, control your feelings.”
Lionel took the paper, opened it, and read. Mr. Hoskyns, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, took a pinch of snuff slowly and artistically, staring across, meanwhile, very hard at Lionel.
The paper ran as under:—