"Speak to him, caress him, then in future he will never hurt you," he said. "When you come back, bring him food; you must be friends."
Reginald had a great liking for all animals. He spoke to the mastiff, which, after a few minutes' inspection, sniffed around, and suffered him to stroke him.
"That's all right," said Knight, satisfied.
Taking a key off a bunch at his side he opened a side gate, and Reginald passed out into the street opposite the Old Bailey.
"You have only to ring that bell when you return," he said, pointing to a long iron chain by the door. "I shall answer."
Reginald nodded, and went forth with a heavy heart, feeling as if years had passed over his head since he penetrated within the mighty walls which separated the prison of Newgate and its inmates from the outside world.
CHAPTER X
A Legend
When Reginald returned to his mother he found her waiting impatiently for him; indeed, she had done so for the last three days. Her whole time had been spent between prayer and waiting, seated in the window with her hands folded.
In the morning she attended to her household duties--she forgot nothing. It was with difficulty that they could get her to take any food; she seemed to have no need of it. Now, when she saw Reginald coming up the street, she said to Ann: