Black was hanged at Pentonville gaol on the 27th of March, 19—, and Lord Francis Ledborough, sitting by the side of an invalid uncle’s bed, read such meagre descriptions as were given to the press.
"Did you know him, sir?" he asked.
The old earl turned fretfully.
"Know him?" he snarled. "Of course I knew him; he is the only friend of mine that has ever been hanged."
"Where did you meet him?" persisted a sceptical A.C. of Police.
"I never met him," said the old man grimly, "he met me."
And he made a little grimace, for the wound in his shoulder was still painful.