The String of Pearls (1850), p. 541

CHAPTER CXXV.
MRS. LOVETT SEES SOME TWILIGHT SPECTRES IN HER CELL.

After she had sat for some time in this state of feeling, and just before the darkness got so apparent that but little could be seen of the few articles that the place contained, she heard the door open. A flash of light came into the place.
"Who is that?" she cried.
"Oh, you needn't think as it's robbers—it's only me," said a voice. "You are quite safe here, ma'am. That's one good of being in the stone jug: you
needn't be afraid of thieves breaking into your place."
She saw that it was the turnkey whose duty it was to keep watch in the passage outside her cell.
"What do you want here?" she said, "Cannot I have the poor privilege of being left alone?"
"Oh, yes, only it's your rations' time, and here's your boiled rice and water, and here's your loaf, mum. In course, that ain't exactly the sort of thing you have been accustomed to; but it's all the county allows—only between you and me and the post, Mrs. Lovett, as they say you have got a pretty heavy purse, you can have just what you like."
"Indeed!"
"Yes, in a moderate way you know. You have only to pay, and you can have anything."
"Then even Newgate is like the rest of the world. Money rules even here, does it?"
"Why, in a manner of speaking, a guinea is worth twenty-one shillings here, just the same as it is outside, ma'am."
"Then how much will purchase my liberty?"
The turnkey shook his head.
"There, ma'am, you ask for an article that I don't deal in. My shop don't keep such a thing as liberty. What I mean is, that you may have just what you like to eat and drink."
"Very well. In the morning you can bring me what I order."
"Oh, yes—yes."
"I will pay handsomely for what I do order, for I have, as you say, a heavy purse. Much heavier, indeed it is, than any of you imagine, my friends."
"Your humble servant, ma'am. I only wish Newgate was full of such as you."
"Ah, I hear a footstep. Who is it that is about to intrude upon me tonight?"
"It's the chaplain."
"The chaplain? I thought he understood that I declined his visits completely."
"Why, you see, ma'am, so you did, but it's his duty to go the round of all the cells before the prison shuts up for the night, so he will come, you see; and if I might advise you, ma'am, I should say be civil to him whatever you may think, for he can do you an ill turn if he likes in his report. He has more underhanded sort of power than you are aware of, Mrs. Lovett; so you had better, as I say, be civil to him, and keep your thoughts to yourself. Where's the odds, you know, ma'am?"
"I am much obliged to you for this advice, and I will pay you for it. There is a couple of guineas for you as a slight remembrance of me, and let others say what they will, you at least will not accuse me of ingratitude for any benefit conferred upon me."
"That I won't, ma'am, but here he comes. Mum is the word about what I have said, or else my place would not be worth much, I can tell you."