at the most to live. An hour later Lord Ferrers was lying dead drunk on
the floor of his bedroom, while Mr Johnson's life was ebbing out in
agony at his house, a mile away.

"As soon as it became known," to quote the account given
by an eye-witness in the _Gentleman's Magazine_, "that
Mr Johnson was really dead, the neighbours set about
seizing the murderer. A few persons, armed, set out for
Staunton, and as they entered the hall-yard they saw the
Earl going towards the stable, as they imagined, to take
horse. He appeared to be just out of bed, his stockings
being down and his garters in his hand, having probably
taken the alarm immediately on coming out of his room,
and finding that Johnson had been removed. One
Springthorpe, advancing towards his lordship, presented a
pistol, and required him to surrender; but his lordship
putting his hand to his pocket, Springthrope imagined he
was feeling for a pistol, and stopped short, being
probably intimidated. He thus suffered the Earl to escape
back into the house, where he fastened the doors and
stood on his defence.

"The crowd of people who had come to apprehend him beset
the house, and their number increased very fast. In about
two hours Lord Ferrers appeared at the garret window, and
called out: 'How is Johnson?' Springthorpe answered: 'He
is dead,' upon which his lordship insulted him, and
called him a liar, and swore he would not believe anybody
but the surgeon, Kirkland. Upon being again assured that
he was dead, he desired that the people might be