Their brief observations had a jovial tone.

I suppose the miserable passengers in that black ferry-boat to Hades are too full of care to indulge in such trifling, and only wanton larrikins and old stagers employ their pencils in illustrating the planks.
After a long drive we entered an archway and stopped.

A heavy door was closed behind us, and another opened in front.

The van moved forward a few yards and turned round.

Then the door was opened, and looking out I saw the front of Holloway Gaol.
Several minutes elapsed before we descended from the prison van.