The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, he began, “and do n’t mind advancing them for your service if they will do any good.” “Faith! and they ll pay the landtady and the tailor!” ejaculated the captain, quite delighted at the prospect just held out. “ “Very well,” said Mr. Scales. “Then we can re- cover your clothes for you. But how will it be ifthe officers are in the house, and, seeing your landlady give me the garments, should follow me?” “ Be Jasus! and Misthress Rudd is complately in my nower-r!”” cried Captain O'Glunderbuss: “just tell her that if she don’t manage the thing slily for ye, that I’ split upon her and the Riverind Mr. Eminuel Tlummery—and she’ll turn as make and as mild as a lamb. But I must be afther sinding her back her own toggery.” “I’ve got a large band-box in my little bed-room adjoining,” said Mr. Scales; “and I don’t mind car- rying out the gown and the bonnet and shaw! in it. Never do things by halves—that s my motto. Inthe ineantime. you can put on my dressing-gown :—~<* am sorry my own clothes wourd be much too small for Vou—or else Pp “Oh! be Jasus! and I’d sooner get back my own,” cricd the captain. “I niver should dar-r to prisint myselfin any other toggery to my frind in the City.” “Well and good: you can step into my bed-room and undress yourself,” said Mr. Scales; “and I’ be off as soon as you are ready.” ‘And them ould fogeys down stairs in the yard,” observed the captain, —* they ‘Il be atther quistioning ve, wy frind, about the tall Jady in the black silk gown that’s a foot and a half too shor-r-t for her.” “Oh! Jeave them to me,” said the ‘good-natured Brother of the Charter Ucuse: “I'll tell them it’s my sister, Bless your soul, they ’re all purblind, and never will have noticed any thing peculiar in your dress, It’s the nurses that I most fear—the char- women of the establishment, I mean;—for if any of them saw you-—” “T didn’t observe one of them, my dear frind,” in- terrupted the captain. “But we’ve niver a ha’porth of time to lose—and so1’ll be afther getting out of this infer-r-nal silk gown and Lighorn bonnet.” Irom the moderate-sized, but lofty and airy apart- ment in which this colloquy took place, the captain passed into a little chamber only just large enough to cuntain a bed, a chest of drawers, and a toilette-table: and there he speedily extricated himself from the ferminine apparel, all of which he thrust pell-mell into the bauad-box which his friend had pointed out to him for the purpose. He then wrapped himself in Mr. Seales’s dressing-gown; and this being done, he gave the good-natured Brother the necessary instructions how to proceed with regard to the Jandlady and the tailor. Having tied a string round the band-box, so as to earry it the more conveniently, and likewise with a Letter appearance of negligent ease, Mr. Scales new set out.on his mission—previously enjoining the captain to keep the door carefully locked until his return, and mentioning a signal by which his knock at the door might be known, so that the gallant officer should not incur the danger of admitting any other person. The moment the martial gentleman was left to himself, he advanced straight up to the cupboard, which he uncere- moniously opened; and, to his huge delight, perceived a bottle containing a fluid whieh was unmistakeably of that alcoholic species so widely Known under the denomination of gin. The captain took a long draught 159 of the raw spirit, and, much refreshed, sate down tc await his new friend’s return. A quarter of an hour passed, during which he cal- culated the chances of eventual escape from the bailiffs. If they had not discovered the trick which was played them, before the captain had entered the Char- ter House, there was every prospect in his favour ; because he felt assured that Mrs. Rudd, even if she had seen him take refuge there, would not dare to betray him. But if, on the other hand, they had ascertained the whole truth while he was as yet outside the Charter House gates, then they had most probably rushed to the windows and obtained a glimpse of his person in the Square. And yet, recurring to the chances that were favour- able to him, he reasoned that when the noise attend- ant upon knocking down the methodist minister had reached the ears of the officers, some time would then be lost in receiving explanations from that reverend gentleman, and in vain attempts to open the door— until Mrs, Rudd’s return with the key; and in the interim his’place of concealment would have been gained, and would remain unsuspected by the bailiffs. On the other hand,once more, what if the officers had not waited for Mrs. Rudd’s return at all, but had leapt out of the ground-floor windows? “Oh! bad luck to the pro and con!” ejaculated tho captain aloud. “I’m safe here—and that ’s enough For if the spalpeens had suspicted that.I am here, they ’d have been afther me Jong ago!” Rising from his seat, he crept cautiously up to the window and took a survey of the enclosures through which he had passed a short time before; and this reconnoitring process was highly satisfactory. The old Brothers were lounging about as he had just now beheld them; and not a shadow of a sherifl’s-officer was to be seen. Ylighly delighted by the hopeful assurances which the aspect of things thus conveyed to his mind, Captain O’Blunderbuss paid another visit to the cupboard, and regaled himself with another refreshing draught from the gin-bottle—after which potation, he smacked his lips in approval of the alcoholic beverage, and resumed his scat and his meditations. The Jatter continued for another quarter of an hour; at the expiration whereof the gallant gentle- man paid his respects a third time to the cupboard; and scarcely had he closed the door of that commodi- ous recess, when the concerted signal was given, an- nouncing his friend’s return. As Mr. Scales entered the room, a glance showed the captain that his friend had sueceeded in his mission; for the red countenance wore a triumphant smile, and the band-box had not come back empty. ‘** Be Jasus! and you're a thrump!” exclaimed thie gallant Irishman, as he marked these indications of sucecss. “ But what news of them bastes of the arth" “Oh! you're all safe, my dear fellow,” interrupted Mr, Seales, wiping the perspiration off his rubicund countenance. “Che clothes are in the box—the landlady is intimidated, and therefore in your interests —and the bailifis have got entirely on a wrong scent. In fact, they had left the louse before I got there: but there’s no doubt they’re waiting about in the neighbourhood—and therefore it will be better for you te remain here until dark, if you possibly can. J will give you a bit ef diuner—and may be a jriass cf grog-—” (C(O) (C DOO SS (SO)