"Is Sarah Purday," I asked the turnkey, "more reconciled to her position than she was?"
"She's just the same--bitter as gall, and venomous as a viper."
This woman, I should state, was a person of fierce will and strong passions, and in early life had been respectably situated.
"Just step into her cell," I continued, "upon some excuse or other, and carelessly drop a hint that if she could prevail upon Jackson to get her brought by _habeas_ before a judge in London, there could be no doubt of her being bailed."
The man stared, but after a few words of pretended explanation, went off to do as I requested. He was not long gone. "She's all in a twitteration at the thoughts of it," he said; "and must have pen, ink, and paper without a moment's delay, bless her consequence!"
These were supplied; and I was soon in possession of her letter, couched cautiously, but more peremptorily than the former one. I need hardly say it did not reach its destination. She passed the next day in a state of feverish impatience; and no answer returning, wrote again, her words this time conveying an evident though indistinct threat. I refrained from visiting her till two days had thus passed, and found her, as I expected, eaten up with fury. She glared at me as I entered the cell like a chained tigress.
"You appear vexed," I said, "no doubt because Jackson declines to get you bailed. He ought not to refuse you such a trifling service, considering all things."
"All what things?" replied the woman, eyeing me fiercely.
"That you know best, though I have a shrewd guess."
"What do you guess? and what are you driving at?"
"I will deal frankly with you, Sarah Purday. In the first place, you must plainly perceive that your _friend_ Jackson has cast you off--abandoned you to your fate; and that fate will, there can be no doubt, be transportation."
"Well," she impatiently snarled, "suppose so; what then?"
"This--that you can help yourself in this difficulty by helping me."
"In the first place, give me the means of convicting Jackson of having received the stolen property."
"Oh, I know it very well--as well almost as you do. But this is not my chief object; there is another, far more important one," and I ran over the incidents relative to the attempt at poisoning. "Now," I resumed, "tell me, if you will, your opinion on this matter."