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Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863

"Catherine: a Story"


"During his confinement in Newgate, Mr. Macshane could not be
brought to express any contrition for his crimes, except that of
having killed his commanding officer. For this Wood he pretended an
excessive sorrow, and vowed that usquebaugh had been the cause of
his death,--indeed, in prison he partook of no other liquor, and
drunk a bottle of it on the day before his death.
"He was visited by several of the clergy and gentry in his cell;
among others, by the Popish priest whom he had robbed, Father
O'FIaherty, before mentioned, who attended him likewise in his last
moments (if that idolatrous worship may be called attention), and
likewise by the Father's patron, the Bavarian Ambassador, his
Excellency Count Maximilian de Galgenstein."
As old Wood came to these words, he paused to give them utterance.
"What! Max?" screamed Mrs. Hayes, letting her ink-bottle fall over
her ledgers.
"Why, be hanged if it ben't my father!" said Mr. Billings.
"Your father, sure enough, unless there be others of his name, and
unless the scoundrel is hanged," said the Doctor--sinking his voice,
however, at the end of the sentence.
Mr. Billings broke his pipe in an agony of joy. "I think we'll have
the coach now, Mother," says he; "and I'm blessed if Polly Briggs
shall not look as fine as a duchess.


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