The Lord Chief Baron did not tell him at the moment who he was. The turnkey was quite ready to show him the way in which the escape had been made. He set up the frame exactly as he found it on the day of Margaret's adventure, and showed him the very crotch with which she had fixed the line on the _chevaux de frise_. The broken spike on the roller was pointed out, and he informed the judge of the trousers and smock-frock which the prisoner had manufactured out of the sheets of her bed. After having examined minutely the place and the frame, and having heard the full report of the turnkey, he again said-- "What an artful woman she must be to do this, and to be able to deceive you in the sound of her voice from the adjoining cell!" "Aye, sir; and had she not confessed this, I should have been puzzled, up to this hour, to account for her getting out of her cell, as I swore that I heard her answer from within, before I locked the door." "She must be a clever person." "Yes, sir, I believe she is. She owes a very great deal to a lady in this town, who has taken great pains with her." "So I have heard," said the stranger. "I would give something to see that lady. I understand she is the wife of the gentleman from whom she stole the horse." "I wish the lady might call while you are here, sir. It is not unlikely that she may. Pray, sir, were you in court at the time of her trial?" "Yes, I was." "Then, perhaps, sir, you could tell us if it be true that she answered the judge who addressed her in such a manner as to confuse him. Our folks say that he was completely set, and felt so much surprised as to be put out by her speech. I do not, of course, know if it be so, but I heard two of our visiting magistrates talking about it the other day, and they seemed to say as much as if it was so." "It did not strike me to be exactly so. The judge was certainly surprised at what she said, but I do not think he was angry with the prisoner. Is the woman in her cell at this time?" "Yes, she is, sir." "Will you tell Mr. Ripshaw that I should like to examine all the cells of the prison?" "Mr. Ripshaw is gone with two prisoners to Portsmouth, sir; but Mrs. Ripshaw is within, and I can show you the cells." The Lord Chief Baron followed the turnkey to the door of the governor's house, which was in the centre of the gaol. At this moment the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Sharp, came to pay his visit to the prisoners. The gentlemen were shown into the parlour, where Mrs. Ripshaw sat, busily engaged at some of the gaol accounts. The Lord Chief Baron presented his card to the chaplain, who immediately explained to Mrs. Ripshaw who it was.