“Beauty in distress mollifies the court, does it?” inquired Richard, willing to be won from his own wretchedness by talk even with a man like this.

“Mollifies!—­yes, it makes a molly of every body.  I have known a judge shed tears about it, which he is not bound to do unless he has the black cap on—­that always set him going like an onion.  Why, I’ve seen even an attorney use his pocket-handkerchief because of a pretty face in trouble; but then she was his client, to be sure.  Talking of attorneys, you’ll have Weasel, of course?”

Richard nodded an affirmative.

“Quite right.  I should have him myself, if there was a shadow of a chance; but, as it is, it’s throwing good money out o’ winder.  I wish you better luck, young gentleman, than mine is like to be; not that you want luck, of course, but only justice.”

Richard did not relish this tone of banter, and he showed it in his look.

“Come, come,” said the other, good-humoredly, “it is a pity to curdle such a handsome face as yours with sour thoughts.  Let us be friends, for you may be glad of even a friend like me some dirty day.”

“It is very likely,” answered Richard, bitterly.  “I see no fine days ahead, nor yet fine friends.”

“I hope you will see both,” answered the other, frankly.  “The first time one finds one’s self provided for so extra careful as this,” with a glance at the iron bars across the low-arched windows, “the prospect always does seem dark.  But one learns to look upon the bright side at last.  Is the figure very heavy that you’re in for?  Excuse my country manners:  I don’t mean to be rude, nor do I ask the question from mere curiosity; but you don’t look like one to have come here for a mere trifle.”

“The amount in question is two thousand pounds.”

“No whistling there!” cried the warder, peremptorily, for the “old hand” had not been able to repress an expression of emotion at this announcement.  He looked at Richard with an air of self-complacency, such as a gentleman of the middle classes exhibits on suddenly discovering that he has been in familiar converse with a person of title, or a small trader on being brought into unexpected connection with a merchant prince.  The gigantic character of the “operation” had invested this young man with an increased interest in the stranger’s eye.

“That’s a great beginning,” said he, admiringly, “and could scarcely have happened with a poor devil like me.  One requires to be born a gentleman to have such opportunities.  Now, I don’t mind telling you” here he sank his voice to a whisper, and looked cautiously about him, “that I was forty years of age before I ever got such a haul as yours.  I’ve done better since, but it’s been up-hill work, for all that.”

“It doesn’t seem to have been very hard work,” said Richard, with a meaning glance at the other’s hand.

“Well, no, I can’t say as it’s been hard; a neat touch is what is wanted in my profession.”