The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 393: what you’re looking at

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~ 388 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. —_—— wore a vworm—that you would send mo to New- gate—that you would abandon me to my fate— and that you would even help to have me shipped for eternal exile. I thank you for all your kind intentions, sir,’ added Green, in a tone of bitter satire; “and I mcan to show my gratitude by ex- posing you and your villany to the utmost of my ability.” — “ And what injury can you do me, reptile?” ex- claimed Heathcote, quivering and furious with rage. fe What injury !” repeated Green: “I can ruin you!” he added, speaking loudly. and trium- phantly. ‘Oh! I am acquainted with far more of your dark transactions and nefarious schomes than you can possibly imagine. Tho deeds that are contained therein,” he added, pointing to tho japanned tin-boxes, “are not sealed books to me. T have read them all—yes, all—and have gleaned cnough information to enable mo to bring upon you such a host of ruined and defrauded clients, that you would never darc to faco them even for © moment. Ah! you may turn pale as death~ and your cyes may glare with rage: but it is not the lose true that I hold you in my powor. If you destroy those deeds, you then annihilate the only documents which prove your title to the vast property which you have accumulated: if you do not destroy them, you leave in oxistencs the damning evidences of your villany. At this very moment there aro old men and old women struggling on the bitterest ponury, and cursing the life from which they have not the moral courage to fly through the medium of suicide,— some of thom in the workhouse—others dependent on tho bounty of relatives ;—and all these havo beon plunged into this appalling misery by you ! But every stop you took to enmesh and ensnaro thom—overy scheme you dovised to get thom com- pletely into your power, 80 that you might wronch from thom tho last acre of their lands and tho last guinoa of their fortunes,—all—all has been illegal —fraudulont—oxtortionate—vile! Oh! it will alone prove a fine harvest for me, when I again take out my certificate to practise as an attorney —which I am about to do,—it will bo a splendid commencement, I say, to take up the causes of all those persons and compel you to render an account to your ruined clients. This, sir, 15 what I am about to do; and now it shall be war botween us —war to the very knife,—and ere many months have elapsed, you will bitterly repent your con- duct to ono who only asked for o little kindness in return for his faithful —far too fwithful services.” — Having thus spoken, Mr. Greon abruptly quittea the office, leaving James Heathcote in a state of mind not even to bo envicd by a criminal about to ascend the stops of the scaffold. CHAPTER CCII. JACK RILY AND VITRIOL BOB. Mr. GREEN had so well managed matters in respect to the Bank-notcs, that in tho courso of a fow hours he had contrived to obtain cash for about twelve thousand pounds’ worth; and the Doctor was so delighted at his succoss, that he had testified his satisfaction by making him a present of a couplo of thousand for him- self, Being now a rich man, Mr. Rily resolved to quit his lodgings in Roupel-strect and take suporior apartments in a better neighbourhood. Then it struck him, as he was walking leisurely along in the City, after having parted from Green, that it would be far more agreeable to become the pos- sessor of a nice little cottage in a pleasant suburb ; and, while this idea was uppermost in his mind, he happened to observe in the window of a house- agent an announcement to the effect that “ several elerant and desirablo villas were to be let on lease or sold, in the most delightful part of Penton- ville.’ The Doctor cntered the office, obtained a card to view the premises thus advertised, and, taking a cab, proceeded straight to the suburb indicated. Having nothing particular to do, Jack Rily spent several hours in inspecting the villas, and at length fixed upon one which he resolved to pur- chase. The individual who had built the houses on speculation, and who was compelled to dispose of one on any terms bofore he could possibly finish another, resided close at hand; and a bar- gain being speedily concluded, a particular hour on the following day was thero and then agreed upon as the time for a convenicnt and final settle- ro ent. Jack Rily, having proceeded thus far in his ar- rangements, entered 2 public-house which had lately been built on an eminence within a quarter of a mile of the New Model Prison; and there ho ordered some dinner—for it was now four o’clock in tho afternoon. The ropast over, he took aseat at an open window which commanded a view of Copenhagen Fields and all the neighbouring dis- trict ; and with his pipe and some hot brandy-and- water he was enjoying himself to his heart’s con- tent, when he was suddenly startled by the ap- pearance of Vitriol Bob, who happened to pass that way. Though a brave, fearless, and desporate man, tho Doctor novortholess uttcrod an ojaculation of mingled surpriso and annoyance ; and his enemy, who would not have othorwise porceived him, in- stantly glanced towards the window. Thoir looks met—and a diabolical scowl distorted the counte- nance of Vitriol Bob,—while Jack Rily, immo diately recovering his presonee of mind, sur- veyed the miscreant from head to foot with cool defianco. Vitriol Bob appeared to hesitate for 2 moment what course to pursue: thon, suddenly making up his mind, he entered the public-houso whero tho Doctor was seated. Taking a chair at anothor table, he rang the bell and ordered somo spirits-and-water, in pay- ment for which he threw down a sovereign, ro- ceiving tho change. When the waiter had disappeared, and the two villains were alone together, Vitriol Bob looked maliciously at Jack Rily, as much as to any, “You seo lam not without money ;” and then ho glanced complacently at tho new suit of black which he had on. For a change had taken placo in Vitriol Bob’s Appearance; and he seemed to be “in high feather,” as well as his enemy the Doctor. His huge black whiskors had been trimmed, oiled, and curled—a process that did not howover matoria)ly mitigate the hang-dog expression of his coun‘e- nance: for his small, reptile eyes still glared ferociously from beneath his thick, overhanging brows,—his lips were as usual of a livid hue,— and his repulsive, broken noso positively ap- peared, if that wero possiblo, more flat on his face than evor. ‘Your health, Jack,” said the miscreant, nod- ding with a kind of malignant familiarity, ag he zaized the steaming glass to his almost parched Ps. —— erm me i nm rr rr ry rr sm cr ee Re ee GIOOKS 5} (CO) (CO) >