WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.680 --> 00:00:06.120 Chapter four of Amusement Only. This is a LibriVox recording. 2 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:11.279 All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more 3 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:18.800 information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording 4 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:25.960 by Roeg eleven. Amusement Only by Richard marsh The Strange 5 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:32.000 Occurrences In Canterston Jail Chapter one, mister Mankell declares his 6 00:00:32.119 --> 00:00:40.119 intention of acting on magisterial advice. Oliver Mankell was sentenced 7 00:00:40.159 --> 00:00:44.320 to three months hard labor. The charge was that he 8 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:49.479 had obtained money by means of false pretenses, not large sums, 9 00:00:49.560 --> 00:00:53.479 but shillings, half crowns and so on. He had given 10 00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:55.960 out that he was a wizard, and that he was 11 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:00.560 able and willing for a consideration to predict the events 12 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:05.400 of the future tell fortunes. In fact, the case created 13 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:09.439 a large amount of local interest, for some curious stories 14 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:13.400 were told about the man in the town. Mankell was 15 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.359 a tall, slight, wiry looking fellow in the prime of life, 16 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:23.200 with coal black hair and olive complexion, apparently of romany extraction. 17 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:29.280 His bearing was self possessed, courteous, even with something in 18 00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:31.959 his air, which might have led one to suppose that 19 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:36.000 he saw what others did not the humor of the thing. 20 00:01:37.599 --> 00:01:43.280 At one point, his grave, almost saturnine visage distinctly relaxed 21 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:48.120 into a smile. It was when Colonel Gregory, the Chairman 22 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:52.439 of the day, was passing sentence after committing him for 23 00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:57.400 three months hard labor. The colonel added, during your sojourn 24 00:01:57.560 --> 00:02:00.480 within the walls of the prison, you will have an 25 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:05.400 opportunity of retrieving your reputation. You say you are a 26 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:10.240 magician during your stay in jail, I would strongly advise 27 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:14.199 you to prove it. You lay claim to magic powers, 28 00:02:14.680 --> 00:02:18.599 exercise them. I need scarcely point out to you how 29 00:02:18.759 --> 00:02:22.560 excellent a chance you will have of creating a sensation. 30 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:29.199 The people laughed. When the great Panjandrum is even dimly 31 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:33.560 suspected of an intention to be funny, the people always do. 32 00:02:34.280 --> 00:02:38.120 But on this occasion even the prisoner smiled, rather an 33 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:41.280 exceptional thing, for as a rule, it is the prisoner 34 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:45.719 who sees the joke the least of all. Later in 35 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:48.520 the day, the prisoner was conveyed to the county jail. 36 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:53.759 This necessitated a journey by rail, with a change upon 37 00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:57.400 the way. At the station where they changed there was 38 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:01.680 a delay of twenty minutes. The prisoner and the constable 39 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:05.240 in charge of him, improved by adjourning to a public 40 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:09.520 house hard by. Here they had a glass. Indeed they 41 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:13.120 had two, and when they reached Canterston, the town on 42 00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:17.159 whose outskirts stood the jail, they had one. Perhaps it 43 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:20.800 was two more. It must have been too, for when 44 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.560 they reached the jail, instead of the constable conveying the prisoner, 45 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:29.039 it was the prisoner who conveyed the constable upon his shoulder. 46 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:32.800 The warder, who answered the knock, seemed surprised at what 47 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.400 he saw. What do you want three months hard labor? 48 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:41.800 The warder stared. The shades of night had fallen, and 49 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:44.680 the lamp above the prison door did not seem to 50 00:03:44.719 --> 00:03:48.560 cast sufficient light upon the subject to satisfy the janitor. 51 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:54.919 Come inside, he said. Mankell entered the constable upon his shoulder. 52 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:59.879 Having entered, he carefully placed the constable in a sitting 53 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.800 posture on the stones, with his back against the wall. 54 00:04:04.719 --> 00:04:08.479 The policeman's helmet had tipped over his eyes. He scarcely 55 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:11.639 presented an imposing picture of the majesty and might of 56 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:15.479 the law. The warder shook him by the shoulder. Here, 57 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:19.680 come wake up, you're a pretty sort, he said. The 58 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:26.040 Constable's reply, although slightly inarticulate, was yet sufficiently distinct. Note 59 00:04:26.079 --> 00:04:30.680 another drop, he murmured. No, I shouldn't think so, said 60 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.279 the warder. You've had a pailfall, it seems to me already. 61 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:38.160 The man seemed a little puzzled, and he turned and 62 00:04:38.199 --> 00:04:42.759 looked at Mankell. What do you want here? Three months 63 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:46.360 hard labor? The man looked down and saw that the 64 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.759 newcomer had gives on his wrists. He went to the 65 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:53.199 door at one side and summoned another warder. The two 66 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:57.319 returned together. The second official took in the situation at 67 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:01.240 a glance. Have you come here? From? Naming the town 68 00:05:01.639 --> 00:05:05.560 from which they had in fact come, Mankell inclined his head. 69 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:09.879 The second official turned his attention to the prostate Constable 70 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:15.720 Luckiness Pockets. The janitor acted on the suggestion. The order 71 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:21.680 for committal was produced. Are you Oliver Mankell? Again? Mankell 72 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:24.920 inclined his head. With the order in his hand, the 73 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:27.639 official marched him through the side door by which he 74 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:32.240 himself had appeared. Soon Oliver Mankell was the inmate of 75 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:35.120 a cell. He spent most of that night in the 76 00:05:35.160 --> 00:05:38.279 reception cells at the gate in the morning, he had 77 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:42.560 a bath, was introduced into prison clothing and examined by 78 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:45.439 the doctor. He was then taken up to the main 79 00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:49.040 building of the prison and introduced to the governor. The 80 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:52.800 governor was a quiet, gentlemanly man with a straggling black 81 00:05:52.839 --> 00:05:57.000 beard and spectacles. The official to the tips of his fingers. 82 00:05:57.560 --> 00:06:00.480 As Mankell happened to be the only fresh arrival. The 83 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:05.360 governor favored him with a little speech. You've placed yourself 84 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.000 in an uncomfortable position, Mankell. I hope you'll obey the 85 00:06:09.079 --> 00:06:13.040 rules while you're here. I intend to act upon the 86 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:17.519 advice tendered me by the magistrate who passed sentence. The 87 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:21.120 governor looked up. Not only was the voice a musical voice, 88 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:24.399 but the words were not the sort of words generally 89 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:29.160 chosen by the average prisoner. What advice was that? He 90 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.519 said that I claimed to be a magician. He strongly 91 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:35.639 advised me to prove it during my stay in jail. 92 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:40.839 I intend to act upon the advice he tendered. The 93 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:44.839 governor looked Mankell steadily in the face. The speaker's bearing 94 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:50.120 conveyed no suggestion of insolent intention. The governor looked down again. 95 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:54.040 I advise you to be careful what you do, you 96 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.480 may make your position more uncomfortable than it is already. 97 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:01.959 Take the man away. They took the man away. They 98 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.319 introduced him to the wheel on the treadmill. He passed 99 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:09.319 the remainder of the morning. At noon, morning tasks were 100 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:12.199 over and the prisoners were marched into their day cells 101 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.439 to enjoy the meal, which in prison parlance was called dinner. 102 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:21.120 In accordance with the ordinary routine, the chaplain made his 103 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:24.240 appearance in the round house to interview those prisoners who 104 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:27.480 had just come in and those whose sentences would be 105 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:31.199 completed on the morrow. When Mankell had been asked at 106 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:35.480 the gate what his religion was, he had made no answer, 107 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.560 So the warder, quite used to ignorance on the part 108 00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:41.959 of new arrivals as to all religions, has entered him 109 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.120 as a member of the Church of England. As a 110 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:48.240 member of the Church of England, he was taken out 111 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:53.160 to interview the chaplain. The chaplain was a little fussy gentleman, 112 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:58.639 considerably past middle age. Long experience of prisons and prisoners 113 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:03.680 had bred in him, perhaps unconscious habit of regarding criminals 114 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:09.279 as naughty boys urchins who required a judicious combination of 115 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:14.079 cakes and castigation. Well, my lad, I'm sorry to see 116 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:17.560 a man of your appearance here. This was a remark 117 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:20.360 the chaplain made to a good many of his new friends. 118 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:23.199 It was intended to give them the impression that at 119 00:08:23.240 --> 00:08:26.759 least the chaplain perceived that they were something out of 120 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:30.040 the ordinary. Run Then he dropped his voice to a 121 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:36.480 judicious whisper, what's it for for telling the truth? This 122 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:40.639 replies seemed a little to surprise the chaplain. He settled 123 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:45.519 his spectacles upon his nose. For telling the truth. An 124 00:08:45.559 --> 00:08:48.879 idea seemed all at once to strike the chaplain. Do 125 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:52.440 you mean that you pleaded guilty? The man was silent. 126 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:56.759 The chaplain referred to the paper he held in his hand. Eh, 127 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:00.639 I see that here it has written false pretenses? Was 128 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:04.600 it a stumer? We have seen it mentioned somewhere that 129 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:08.720 stumer is slang for a worthless check. It was away 130 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:11.159 with the chaplain to let his charges see that he 131 00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:14.559 was at least acquainted with their phraseology, But on this 132 00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:18.799 occasion there was no response. The officer in charge of Mankell, 133 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:23.799 who possibly wanted his dinner, put in his oar, telling fortunes, sir, 134 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:29.480 telling fortunes, Oh, dear me, how sad you see what 135 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:33.279 telling fortunes brings you to. There will be no difficulty 136 00:09:33.320 --> 00:09:36.600 in telling your fortune if you don't take care. I 137 00:09:36.679 --> 00:09:41.240 will see you tomorrow morning after chapel. The chaplain turned away, 138 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:45.639 but his prediction proved to be as false as Mankell's 139 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:48.840 were stated to have been. He did not see him 140 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:52.320 the next morning after chapel, and that for sufficient reason 141 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.919 that on the following morning there was no chapel. And 142 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.399 the reasons why there was no chapel were very curious, 143 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:06.519 indeed unprecedented. In fact, Canterston Jail was an old fashioned prison. 144 00:10:07.240 --> 00:10:10.799 In it, each prisoner had two cells, one for the 145 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.200 day and one for the night. The day cells were 146 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.639 on the ground floor, those for the night were overhead. 147 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:21.200 At six a m. A bell was rung and the 148 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:24.679 warders unlocked the night cells for the occupants to go 149 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:29.320 down to those beneath. That was the rule. That particular morning, 150 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.600 there was an exception to the rule. The bell was 151 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:36.720 rung as usual and the warders started to unlock, but 152 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:40.799 there the adherence to custom ceased, for the doors of 153 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:46.000 the cells refused to be unlocked. The night cells were 154 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.519 hermetically sealed by oaken doors of massive thickness, bolted and 155 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:54.399 barred in accordance with the former idea that the security 156 00:10:54.440 --> 00:10:58.200 of prisoners should depend rather on bolts and bars than 157 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:02.120 on the vigilance of the offices and charge. Each door 158 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:06.919 was let into a twenty four inch brick wall and 159 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:10.960 secured by two ponderous bolts and an enormous lock of 160 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:16.120 the most complicated workmanship. These locks were kept constantly oiled. 161 00:11:16.639 --> 00:11:20.360 When the gigantic key was inserted, it turned as easily 162 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:23.279 as the key of a watch. That was the rule. 163 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:27.240 When therefore, on inserting his key into the lock of 164 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.840 the first cell, Warder Slater found that it wouldn't turn 165 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:35.039 at all. He was rather taken aback, who's been having 166 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:39.720 a game with this lock? He asked Wardoer Puffin, who 167 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:41.759 was stationed at the head of the stairs to see 168 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:45.000 that the prisoners passed down in order at the proper 169 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:48.879 distance from each other, replied to him, anything the matter 170 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:53.679 with the lock? Try the next Wardersladder did try the next, 171 00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:57.519 but he found that as refractory as the first had been. 172 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:03.440 Perhaps he'd got the wrong key, suggested wardour Puffin got 173 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:06.879 the wrong key, cried Warderslater do you think I don't 174 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:10.519 know my own keys when I see them. The oddest 175 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:13.279 part of it was that all the locks were the same, 176 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:18.159 not only in ward A, but in wards B, C, D, E, 177 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:21.720 and F in all the wards. In fact, when this 178 00:12:21.799 --> 00:12:26.279 became known, a certain sensation was created, and that on 179 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:30.360 both sides of the unlocked doors, the prisoners were soon 180 00:12:30.440 --> 00:12:33.960 conscious that their guardians were unable to release them, and 181 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:37.480 they made a noise. Nothing is so precious to the 182 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:41.679 average prisoner as a grievance. Here was a grievance with 183 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:46.399 a vengeance. The chief warder was a man named Murray. 184 00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.120 He was short and stout, with a red face and short, 185 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:56.360 stubbly white hair. His very appearance suggested apoplexy. That suggestion 186 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:00.240 was emphasized when he lost his temper capable off sir 187 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:03.080 though he was. That was more than once in a while. 188 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:06.759 He was in the wheelshed awaiting the arrival of the 189 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.399 prisoner's preparatory to being told off to their various tasks, 190 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:15.799 when instead of the prisoners, warder Slater appeared. If Murray 191 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:19.600 was stout, Slater was stouter. He was about five feet 192 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:23.399 eight and weighed at least two hundred and fifty pounds. 193 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:26.559 He was wont to amaze those who saw him for 194 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:30.240 the first time, and wondered by assuring them that he 195 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:33.600 had a brother who was still stouter compared to whom 196 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:37.480 He was a skeleton in fact, but he was stout enough. 197 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:42.399 He and the Chief Warder made us striking pair. There's 198 00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:44.720 something the matter with the locks of the night sail, sir. 199 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:49.200 We can't under the doors, can't undo the doors. Mister 200 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:52.600 Murray turned the color of a boiled beetroot. What do 201 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:56.399 you mean, it's very queer, sir, But all over the 202 00:13:56.399 --> 00:13:58.759 place it's the same. We can't get none of the 203 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:04.360 doors unlocked. Mister Murray started off at a good round pace, slater, 204 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:07.720 following hard at his heels. The Chief Warder tried his 205 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:12.080 hand himself. He tried every lock in the prison, not 206 00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:16.559 one of them vouchsafed to Budge, not one, that is, 207 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:20.120 with a single exception. The exception was in Ward B 208 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:23.960 number twenty seven. Mister Murray had tried all the other 209 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.559 doors in the ward, beginning with number one, tried them 210 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:31.000 all in vain. But when he came to number twenty seven, 211 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:34.759 the lock turned with customary ease, and the door was 212 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:40.320 open within it was Oliver Mankell, standing decorously at attention, 213 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:44.559 waiting to be let out. Mister Murray stared at him, Hum, 214 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:47.240 there's nothing the matter with this lock. At any rate, 215 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:51.919 you better go on. Oliver Mankell went downstairs. He was 216 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:56.080 the only man in Canterston Jail who did. Wow, this 217 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:59.879 is our pretty go, exclaimed mister Murray. When he had 218 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.039 completed his round, two or three other warders had accompanied him. 219 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:08.080 He turned on these someone well smart for this, you see. 220 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:12.600 If they don't keep those men still, the din was deafening. 221 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:17.519 The prisoners, secure of a grievance, were practicing step dances 222 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:20.639 in their heavy shoes on the stone floors. They made 223 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:27.600 the narrow vaulted corridors ring silence. Those men shouted mister Jarvis, 224 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.000 the second warder, who was tall and thin, as the 225 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:35.200 chief was short and stout, He might as well have 226 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:38.240 shouted to the wind. Those in the cells close at 227 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:41.399 hand observed the better part of valor, but those a 228 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:45.200 little distance off paid not the slightest heed. If they 229 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:49.919 were locked in. The officers were locked out. I must 230 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:52.960 go and see the governor. Mister Murray pursed his lips. 231 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.240 Keep those men still, or I'll know the reason why 232 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:00.799 he strode off, leaving his subordinates to obey his orders 233 00:16:01.039 --> 00:16:05.360 if they could or if they couldn't. Mister Paley's house 234 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.279 was in the center of the jail. Pailey, by the way, 235 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:12.039 was the Governor's name. The governor, when mister Murray arrived, 236 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:14.919 was still in bed. He came down to the Chief 237 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:20.360 Order in rather primitive disarray. Anything the matter, Murray, Yes, sir, 238 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:23.519 there's something very much the matter. Indeed, what is it? 239 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.759 We can't get any of the doors of the night 240 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:30.440 cells open. You can't get what there seems to be 241 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.679 something the matter with the locks. The locks, all of 242 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:38.720 them absurd. Well, there they are, and there's the men 243 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.360 inside of them, and we can't get them out. At 244 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:44.919 least I've tried my hand. I know I can't. I'll 245 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.720 come with you at once and see what you mean. 246 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:50.240 Mister Paley was as good as his word. He started 247 00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:53.039 off just as he was. As they were going, the 248 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:56.279 Chief Order made another remark, By the way, there's one 249 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:59.720 cell we managed to get open. I opened it myself. 250 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.799 I thought you said there was none. Ah, there's that one. 251 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:09.400 That's that man mankel Mankell. Who is he? He came 252 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:14.119 in yesterday he's that magician. When they reached the cells, 253 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:18.079 it was easy to perceive that something was wrong. The 254 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:22.519 warders hung about in twos and threes. The noise was deafening. 255 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:27.039 The prisoners were keeping holiday. Get me the keys, and 256 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:29.960 let me see what I can do. It is impossible 257 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:34.640 that all the locks can have been tampered with. They 258 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:38.119 presented mister Paley with the keys. In his turn. He 259 00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:41.680 tried every lock in the jail. It was not a 260 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.680 work of a minute or two. The prison contained some 261 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:48.599 three hundred night cells. To visit them all necessitated not 262 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.160 only a good deal of running up and down stairs, 263 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:54.319 but a good deal of actual walking, for they were 264 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:57.359 not only in different floors and in different blocks, but 265 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:01.839 the prison itself was divided into two entirely separate divisions, 266 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.519 north and south, and to pass from one division to 267 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:08.519 the other entailed a walk of at least one hundred yards. 268 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:11.720 By the time he had completed the round of the locks, 269 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:14.720 mister Paley had had enough of it. It was not 270 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:18.000 surprising that he felt a little bewildered. Not one of 271 00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:20.799 the locks had shown any more readiness to yield to 272 00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:25.240 him than to the others. In passing from one ward 273 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:28.319 to the other. He had passed the row of dacels In, 274 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:32.599 which was situated b twenty seven. Here they found Oliver 275 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:36.319 Mankell sitting in silent state, awaiting the call to work. 276 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:40.279 The governor pulled up at the sight of him. Well, Mankell, 277 00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:42.000 so there was nothing the matter with the lock of 278 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:47.160 your door? Mankell simply inclined his head. I suppose you 279 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:50.400 know nothing about the locks of the other doors. Again, 280 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:53.720 the inclination of the head. The man seemed to be 281 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:57.680 habitually chary of speech. What's the matter with you? Are 282 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:01.680 you dumb? Can't you speak when you're spoke? Two? This 283 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:04.839 time Mankell extended the palms of his hands with a 284 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:09.720 gesture which might mean anything or nothing. The governor passed 285 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:13.839 on the round finished, he held a consultation with the 286 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:20.880 chief warder. Have you any suspicions? It's queer, mister Murray 287 00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:24.920 stroked his bristly chin. It's very queer that that man 288 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:27.599 Mankels should be the only cell in the prison left 289 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:32.319 untampered with. Very queer. Indeed, what are we to do? 290 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:35.400 We can't leave the men locked up all day. It's 291 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:39.039 breakfast time already. I suppose the cooks haven't gone down 292 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:42.039 to the cook house. They're locked up with the rest. 293 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:44.960 Barnes has been up to know what he's to do. 294 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:49.200 Barnes was the prison cook. The cooks referred to were 295 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.799 six good behavior men who were told off to assist 296 00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:56.039 him in his duties. If the food were cooked, I 297 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.880 don't see how we should give it to the men. 298 00:19:58.799 --> 00:20:02.440 That's the question, mister Murray pondered. We might pass it 299 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:05.720 through the gas holes. We should have to break the 300 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.880 glass to do it. You wouldn't find it easy. It's 301 00:20:08.920 --> 00:20:12.240 plate glass and inch in thickness and built into the 302 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:16.720 solid wall. There was a pause for consideration. Wow, this 303 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:20.079 is our pretty start. I've never come across anything like 304 00:20:20.119 --> 00:20:23.920 it in all my days. Before mister Paley passed his 305 00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:27.240 hand through his hair, he had never come across anything 306 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:31.240 like it either. I shall have to telegraph the commissioners. 307 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:35.079 I can't do anything without their sanction. The following telegram 308 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:39.960 was sent. Cannot get prisoners out of night cells something 309 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:44.039 the matter with locks. Cannot give them any food. The 310 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:48.200 matter is very urgent. What shall I do? The following 311 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:53.400 answer was received. Inspector coming down. The inspector came down. 312 00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:58.720 Major William Hardinge, a tall portly gentleman with a very 313 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:02.319 decided manner. When he saw the governor, he came to 314 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:06.359 the point at once, what's all this stuff? We can't 315 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:09.640 get the prisoners out of their night cells. Why there's 316 00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:12.279 something the matter with the locks? Have you given them 317 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:16.079 any food? We have not been able to When were 318 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:19.880 they locked up yesterday evening at six o'clock? This is 319 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:24.039 a very extraordinary state of things. It is or I 320 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:28.119 shouldn't have asked for instructions. It's three o'clock in the afternoon. 321 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:31.799 They've been without food for twenty one hours. You've no 322 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:35.359 right to keep them without food all that time. We 323 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:38.720 are helpless. The construction of the night cell doors does 324 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:42.359 not permit of our introducing food into the interior when 325 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:46.640 the doors are closed. Have they been quiet? They've been 326 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:49.519 as quiet as under the circumstances was to be expected. 327 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:53.279 As they were crossing towards the North division, the governor 328 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:56.960 spoke again, we've been able to get one man out, 329 00:21:57.640 --> 00:22:00.200 one one out of the lot. How did you get 330 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:03.519 at him? Oddly enough, the lock of his cell was 331 00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.720 the only one in the prison which had not been 332 00:22:05.799 --> 00:22:09.400 tampered with. Hmm, I should like to see that man. 333 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:14.480 His name's Mankel. He only came in yesterday. He's been 334 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:18.839 pretending to magic powers, telling fortunes, and that kind of 335 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:23.920 thing only came in yesterday. Mmm, he's begun early. Perhaps 336 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.480 we shall have to tell him what his fortune's likely 337 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:30.319 to be. When they reached the wards, the keys were 338 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:33.519 handed to the inspector, who, in his turn, tried his hand. 339 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:36.759 A couple of locksmiths had been fetched up from the town. 340 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:39.480 When the major had tried two or three of the locks, 341 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:42.440 it was enough for him. He turned to the makers 342 00:22:42.440 --> 00:22:46.799 of locks. What's the matter with these locks? Well, that's 343 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:49.240 exactly what we can't make out. The keys go in 344 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:52.680 all right, but they won't turn. Seems as though somebody 345 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:56.240 had been having a lark with them. Can't you pick them? 346 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:59.799 They're not easy locks to pick, but we'll have a try. 347 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:03.799 Have a try. They had a try, but they tried 348 00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:07.079 in vain. As it happened, the cell on which they 349 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:10.799 commenced operations was occupied by a gentleman who had had 350 00:23:10.920 --> 00:23:15.200 considerable experience in picking locks, experience which had ended in 351 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:18.400 placing him on the other side of that door. He 352 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:22.279 derided the locksmiths through the door. Wow, you are a 353 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:25.799 couple of keen ones. What can't pick a lock? Why 354 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:28.319 they ain't a lock in England? I couldn't pick with 355 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:31.920 a bent airpin. I only wish you was this side, 356 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:34.920 starving like I am, and I was where you are. 357 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.359 It wouldn't be a lock that would keep me from 358 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:41.440 giving you food. This was not the sort of language 359 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:45.079 Major Hardinge was accustomed to hear from the average prisoner, 360 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:48.079 but the Major probably felt that on this occasion the 361 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:52.319 candid proficient in the art of picking locks, had a 362 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:56.960 certain excuse. He addressed the baffled workman. If you can't 363 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:59.640 pick the lock, what can you do? The question is 364 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:04.519 what's the shortest way of getting inside that cell? Get 365 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:07.160 a watch saw, cried the gentleman on the other side 366 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:10.079 of the door. And when you've got your watch saw, 367 00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:14.519 inquired the Major saw the lock right clean away, lor 368 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:16.920 bless me. I only wish I was where you are. 369 00:24:17.079 --> 00:24:20.119 I'd show you a thing or two. It's as easy 370 00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:23.559 as winking. There's all us chaps, a starving, all for 371 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:28.200 want of a little experience. A saw do no good, 372 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:31.559 declared one of the locksmiths. Neither a watch saw nor 373 00:24:31.640 --> 00:24:34.759 any other kind of saw. How are you going to saw? 374 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:39.000 Through those iron stanchions. You'll have to burst the door in. 375 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:42.599 That's what it'll have to be. You won't find it 376 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:45.880 an easy thing to do. This was from the governor. 377 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:48.920 Why don't you take him blow the whole place up, 378 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:51.680 shouted a gentleman also on the other side of the door, 379 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:56.279 two or three cells off. Long before this, all the 380 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:59.599 occupants of the corridor had been lending a very attentive 381 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:03.279 year to what was going on. The suggestion was received 382 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.359 with roars of laughter. The major, however, preferred to act 383 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:10.440 upon the workman's advice. A sledge hammer was sent for. 384 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:15.480 While they were awaiting its arrival, something rather curious happened. 385 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:18.559 Curious that is, viewed in the light of what had 386 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:22.680 gone on before. Warder Slater formed one of the party, 387 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:25.839 more for sake of something to do than anything else. 388 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:28.440 He put his key into the lock of the cell, 389 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:31.440 which was just in front of him, giving it a 390 00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:35.200 gentle twist. To his amazement, it turned with the greatest 391 00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:38.400 of ease, and the door was open. Here's a go, 392 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:44.079 he exclaimed, Blessed if this door ain't come open. There 393 00:25:44.119 --> 00:25:47.480 was a yell of jubilation all along the corridor. The 394 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:51.839 prisoners seemed to be amused. The official party kept silence, 395 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:56.240 possibly their feelings were too deep for words. Since we've 396 00:25:56.279 --> 00:26:00.000 got this one open, said Warder's letter, suppose we try another. 397 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:04.880 He tried another the next and the same result followed. 398 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:09.279 The door was opened with the greatest of ease. What 399 00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:14.079 what's the meaning of this? Sputtered the Major, who's been 400 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:17.720 playing this tomfoolery. I don't believe there's anything the matter 401 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:21.279