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MEHOIES OP JOSEPH G-BIHALDI. 57

CHAPTER IV.

_t 1797 to 1798.

The thieves make a second attempt; alarmed by their perseverance, Grimaldi
repairs to Hatton Garden—Interview with Mr. Trott; ingenious device of
that gentleman and its result on the third visit of the Burglars—Comparative
attractions of Pantomime and Spectacle—Trip to Gravesend and Chatham—
Disagreeable recognition of a good-humoured friend, and an agreeable mode
of journeying recommended to all Travellers.

ON the third night,—the previous two haying passed in per-
fect quiet and security,—the servant girl was at work in the
kitchen, when she fancied she heard a sound as if some person
were attempting to force open the garden-door. She thought it
merely the effect of fancy at first, but the noise continuing, she
went softly up stairs into the passage, and on looking towards
the door, saw that the latch was moved up and down several
times by a hand outside, while some person pushed violently
against the. door itself.

The poor girl .being very much frightened, her first impulse
was .to scream violently; but so far were her cries from deterring
the persons outside from persisting in their attempt, that they
only seemed to press it with redoubled vigour. Indeed, so
violent were their exertions, as if irritated by the noise the girl
made, that the door was very nearly forced from its position, in
which state it was discovered on a subsequent inspection. If it
.had not been proof against the attacks of the thieves, the girl
would assuredly have been murdered. Eecovering her presence
of mind, however, on finding that they could not force an en-
trance, she ran to the street-door, flung it open, and had
immediate recourse to the rattle, which she wielded with such



	MEHOIES OP JOSEPH G-BIHALDI. 57

	CHAPTER IV. _t 1797 to 1798. The thieves make a second attempt; alarmed by their perseverance, Grimaldi repairs to Hatton Garden—Interview with Mr. Trott; ingenious device of that gentleman and its result on the third visit of the Burglars—Comparative attractions of Pantomime and Spectacle—Trip to Gravesend and Chatham— Disagreeable recognition of a good-humoured friend, and an agreeable mode of journeying recommended to all Travellers. ON the third night,—the previous two haying passed in per- fect quiet and security,—the servant girl was at work in the kitchen, when she fancied she heard a sound as if some person were attempting to force open the garden-door. She thought it merely the effect of fancy at first, but the noise continuing, she went softly up stairs into the passage, and on looking towards the door, saw that the latch was moved up and down several times by a hand outside, while some person pushed violently against the. door itself. The poor girl .being very much frightened, her first impulse was .to scream violently; but so far were her cries from deterring the persons outside from persisting in their attempt, that they only seemed to press it with redoubled vigour. Indeed, so violent were their exertions, as if irritated by the noise the girl made, that the door was very nearly forced from its position, in which state it was discovered on a subsequent inspection. If it .had not been proof against the attacks of the thieves, the girl would assuredly have been murdered. Eecovering her presence of mind, however, on finding that they could not force an en- trance, she ran to the street-door, flung it open, and had immediate recourse to the rattle, which she wielded with such