At this juncture, two women, very smartly attired in silk hoods and cloaks, appeared at the door of the Lodge.
"Ah! who have we here?" exclaimed Griffin.
"Only Jack's two wives—Edgeworth Bess and Poll Maggot," replied Austin, laughing.
"They can't go into the Condemned Hold," said Ireton, consequentially; "it's against Mr. Wild's orders. They must see the prisoner at the hatch."
"Very well, Sir," replied Austin, rising and walking towards them. "Well, my pretty dears," he added, "—to see your husband, eh? You must make the most of your time. You won't have him long. You've heard the news, I suppose?"
"That the death warrant's arrived," returned Edgeworth Bess, bursting into a flood of tears; "oh, yes! we've heard it."
"How does Jack bear it?" inquired Mrs. Maggot.
"Like a hero," answered Austin.
"I knew he would," replied the Amazon. "Come Bess,—no whimpering. Don't unman him. Are we to see him here?"