The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

* Tt 90 of the greatest consequence that I shoulf ot- tafn an interview with him as soon as » = He is not here—neither is the Gallows’ Witow, which is his blowen,” answeted the Big They're gone over into Wapping together, and won't be back again to-night.” * Perdition!” ejaculated Ramsey, in a tone of profound vexafion, “Every minute’s delay & tainous!” “ Now don’t excite yourself, sir,” said Carrotty Pol), in a stuns voice, “We can guess pretty well what it is that’s annoying yoo——” “ Sir Richard Stamford is at liberty!” exclaimed sey, interrupting the young woman impatiently, and striking the table with his clenched fist. ®'We know it,” observed the ® is not our fault: he escaped!” * You are not deceiving me?” cried Ramsey, in a tone of mingled excitement and menace. “ Howcan you prove to me that he did indeed escape—and that neither you nor Joseph Warren, nor any of your afsociates, connived at his flight 7” @ Well—it may be a difficult matter for me to convince you, Mr. y,” returned the villain: “but if you was t’other side of the river at this mo- ment, I could take you to the place where the baro- net was confined, and show you the hole that he made in the wall of the cellar.” « IT am inclined to believe you—I do believe you,” said Ramsey. “In fact, if I had really treachery on your part I should not have come hither this evening. Mt. Martin misetred me that the ut- most reliance was to be placed upon Warren—and he urged‘me te come to London and ees him without delay.” ‘Bat how did you lean that the baronet had excaped?” demanded the Beggarman: “for the Mageman only wrote this evening to let you know what hed happened—and the letter won't reach Aylesbury till to-morrow morming. He was ia hopes of being able to discover Sir Richard again, oud tulze hint back to his old quarters: and that’s the reason why he didn’t axnd yon immediate intelligence of his flight.” “ Least evening Mr. Martin received the most in the neightsourhotdd of Aylesbary,” sald Philip @erichken with dimmay. In fact, it will berain to both Martin and myself—positive ruin,” added the young mem, with frightfal emphasis, “if the berenet is alowel to remain many more hours at lexge. What is to be done t” « What would you mish te 8 eo asked oe Beggarmmac “and © you have us, will yeu pay for having it done f” : “ You are dispesed to assist us—te any extent— @o any emtreume f° said Ramsey, duking hs voice to wu low whisper, which was nevereheless fall ef ncan- upon the villain whom he thus addressed. “Ect ws understand exch other, Mr. Ramsey,” “You gave G8 a goed round sum for carrying off the bardact, and heaping thin im litho: anid we falfilled-war barge as far as we coi. Weden't bold cusselves anewerable for ils escape—'cause why, We couldn't help it. We t hie in-e ctreng end efcure place;—and we Peowed that we thight rely upen dieiggethat'e the * But chap Ghithhad Knta & his creep well o8 @& tur il} ownselves, He wotildn’t sign the paper which and Mr. Martin hed drawh Spann that wie fault of owrn nether. But we should have kept him fn the cellar till he did: and if hed heli ont much longer, we meant to have starved him into compliance. Now, then, you perceive thet we did our dooty towards you ad yout ub well = We Wak able: and we don’t ste that anythink fresh or new which you may want us to have done or to do for you, should be executed fie gratis for no- “ Your observations are perfectly just and your reasoning fs correct,” said Ramsey. “ We are pre- pared tp bay you well for what you mist do nexi.® . at case, we shan’ have no guarreis,* re- marked the Big an. “ But how go on mat- ters at Aylesbury? We saw by yesterday morn- ing’s paper that Ladg Stamford was not dead—that she was not even mortally wounded—and that the Cororer’s Inquest was held to examine into the cause of the fire, and not the death of the lady, as was at fust ad * ¥t fs all these circamstances which remier ft ve necessary that Str Richard Stamford should either be got ont of the way—or else pif cnt of the way,” returned Ramsey, again fixing a look of dark and stnister meaning upon the countenance of the Beggarman. “The Coroner’s Inquest has de- cided,” he continued, “ that the fire was the result of actident—caused by a candle being upset on the supper-table. Thus, tlre charge of arson no longer presses against Sir Richard Stamford. Then, again, a surgical opinion declares that the wound was inflicted on Lady Stamford with her own hand: and therefore the accusation of murder is likewise quashed.” “ But the forgeries, Mr. Ramsey—the forgeries ?* exclaimed the Begyarman. “Perhaps the less we say on that subject, the better,” was the reply, delivered ina sombre and gloonyy ‘tone. “But ft ts useless to remain hero, idly conversing on these matters,” he continued, his Bone suddenty beeoming impatient and excited “Sir Richard Stamford is in the neighbourhood of —we know where he is contealing him- he doubtless waits W secertain how it A self, white may tern ont with his wife, ere he takes any actun! ; “and, #§ You may suppose, we were | Pp " rececdings —— | © Aird that lady—s abso sensibie P-—can she speak, So a8 to give any avevert of matters Wat tray tel | wxyainet you gir?” taquired Oarretty Poll: "for the Mageman informed us that you was pretty intimate with het,” sho added, with a chwekfing laugh. “She fs stl hovering between He and death,” euswered Ramsey, ecarcely able to conceal his disgust at the grossness of the woman’s manser, “ Bat again I say, do not waste time in asking me questions : assist me, if you wil,” he continued, a4- dressing timwelf to the Diy Begyarmna ; =“ and tf nek, I must adopt other meats to ensure my “FT hawe het refuned © asi you” replied the borty, red-fiesd villain doggedly {* bet yox havent gtven me no instractions.” “ You we édil at comprehuading 0 hint,” sata : Ramsey, with an impatient uneasiness and restlegs.. mess which indicated that he had already planned a terrible deed, but shrank ftom avowing his “{reanember you chetived jm now that the COMM ElOOO co =