Then I saw a horse's head, and a man's bare head behind it, whisk out from the trees in the direction of the park, and come like a streak across the open ground.
As the galloper came nearer, I could see that he was spurring as if for life.

Then once more a great roar broke out everywhere-- "A pardon! a pardon!" And so it was.
The crowd opened out to let the man through; and immediately he was at the gallows, and handing the paper to the sheriff.

A roar was going up now on all sides; but as in dumb play I could see that Mr.How was speaking to the priests who still stood as before.

Mr.Whitbread shook his head in answer and so did the others.

Then I saw Mr.How make a sign; the hangman came forward again (for he had stepped back just now); and the roar died suddenly to silence.
Then I understood that the pardon was offered only on conditions which these men could not accept--and indeed they turned out afterwards to be that they should confess their guilt--and my anger at that bitter mockery swelled up so that I could scarcely hold myself in.