Page 212 - Child's own book

that had passed in his house, by which means he supposed he
had killed Hunch-hack, and concluded by spying, “ Pray
dismiss Itjlni, and put me in his place* for I alone am the cause
of the death of the little man.” The chief justice being
jarsuaded that (lie Jewish doctor was the murderer, gave
orders to the executioner to seize him and release the purveyor.
Accordingly, the doctor Was just goiug to liC hanged up, wh*sn
the tailor appeared, crying to the executioner to hold his hand,
and make room for him: that he might come and make hi*
confession to the thief judge* Jt^orn being made— L" My Lord,"
said he, ALyyu have narrowly escaped taking away the lives of
three innocent persons, hut if you will have the patience to
hear me, [ will discover to you the real murderer of the crook-
barked man. If Ins death is to he expiated by another, that
must be mine. Yesterday, towards the evening, as I was tit work
in my shup, and was disposed to be merry, the little Hunch­
back came to my door half-drunk, and sat down taforc it. He
sang a little, and so I inviied him to pass the evening at
iny house. He accepted of the invitation, and went in with
me. We sat down to supper, and I gave him a plate of fish ;
but in eating, a bone stuck in hi* throat: and though my wifa
and I did niir utmost to relieve him, he died in a few minutes,
His death afflicted us extremely ; and for fear of being charged
with it, we carried the corpsu to the Jewish doctor's house,
and knocked at the door. Tile maid coining down, and opening
the door, I desired her to go up again forthwith, and ask her
master to come down and give his advice to a sick person that
we had brought Along with us : and withal, to encourage him,
I charged her to give him a pieee of money which I had put
into her hand. When she was gone up again, I carried the
Hunch-hack up stair?, and hid him upon the uppermost step*
and then iny wife and I made the best of our way home. The
doctor coming down, made the corpse fall down stairs, and