There brooded over all a fearful calm.

What Gwynplaine saw was a torture chamber.  There were many such in
England.

The crypt of Beauchamp Tower long served this purpose, as did also the cell in the Lollards’ prison.  A place of this nature is still to be seen in London, called “the Vaults of Lady Place.”  In this last-mentioned chamber there is a grate for the purpose of heating the irons.

All the prisons of King John’s time (and Southwark Jail was one) had their chambers of torture.

The scene which is about to follow was in those days a frequent one in England, and might even, by criminal process, be carried out to-day, since the same laws are still unrepealed.  England offers the curious sight of a barbarous code living on the best terms with liberty.  We confess that they make an excellent family party.

Some distrust, however, might not be undesirable.  In the case of a crisis, a return to the penal code would not be impossible.  English legislation is a tamed tiger with a velvet paw, but the claws are still there.  Cut the claws of the law, and you will do well.  Law almost ignores right.  On one side is penalty, on the other humanity.  Philosophers protest; but it will take some time yet before the justice of man is assimilated to the justice of God.

Respect for the law:  that is the English phrase.  In England they venerate so many laws, that they never repeal any.  They save themselves from the consequences of their veneration by never putting them into execution.  An old law falls into disuse like an old woman, and they never think of killing either one or the other.  They cease to make use of them; that is all.  Both are at liberty to consider themselves still young and beautiful.  They may fancy that they are as they were.  This politeness is called respect.

Norman custom is very wrinkled.  That does not prevent many an English judge casting sheep’s eyes at her.  They stick amorously to an antiquated atrocity, so long as it is Norman.  What can be more savage than the gibbet?  In 1867 a man was sentenced to be cut into four quarters and offered to a woman—­the Queen.[18]

Still, torture was never practised in England.  History asserts this as a fact.  The assurance of history is wonderful.

Matthew of Westminster mentions that the “Saxon law, very clement and kind,” did not punish criminals by death; and adds that “it limited itself to cutting off the nose and scooping out the eyes.”  That was all!

Gwynplaine, scared and haggard, stood at the top of the steps, trembling in every limb.  He shuddered from head to foot.  He tried to remember what crime he had committed.  To the silence of the wapentake had succeeded the vision of torture to be endured.  It was a step, indeed, forward; but a tragic one.  He saw the dark enigma of the law under the power of which he felt himself increasing in obscurity.

The human form lying on the earth rattled in its throat again.