The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

§22 PUR MYSTERIES ee atone, which he bade the two mer £aise by the help of certain implements which they would find in the bag. At the same time he charged them to perform their work in sach a manner that when replaced, the stone should afford no indication of having been recently raised. The bag, as the nobleman intimated, was found to contain not only all the requisite tools for ac- complishing the task now described—but likewise a@ box of cement for the purpose of refixing the stone in its setting. To work the Magsman and the Big Beggarman therefore went, their employer holding the dark lantern in such a way that while it effectually assisted them, its beams never once permitted them to read a single word of the in- scription graven on the stone which they were re- moving. ' In half-an-hour this huge fragment of the dull glue pavement was lifted away from the mouth of the vault which it covered; and a narrow flight of stone steps appeared, leading down into the deep darkness of a sepulchre whence a noisome efiiu- viam exhaled — that peculiar odour which has naught like it, and which at once, even when the source is unknown, carries to the sense a convic- tion of the vicinage of decomposing mortality. Having allowed e minutes to elapse for the foul air thus to expend itself, the nobleman bade his two assistants descend into the vault. They obeyed —and he hastened to follow them with the lantern in his hand. The subterranean was spacious; and round the walls were arranged numerous coffins, in three rows —the lowest standing upon the paved floor, and the other two resting on stout iron supporters projecting from the solid masonry. By these means no coffia actually stood upon another; and between the rows there was space sufficient to enable the plates upon the lids to be examined without moving the coffins themselves. Despite, however, of the interval allowed for the exhalation of the foul air, the stench which prevailed in the vault was almost intolerable; and the Mags- man observed, with a terrible imprecation, that “the sooner they did whatever business there was to do, the better he should like it” With the propriety of this suggestion the Big Beggarman signified his concurrence in a remark that began and ended with _ @aths more horrible than even the ape to which his companion had given utterance; and the blood of the nobleman actually curdled in his veins as this hideous language struck appallingly upon his ears. “ Silence!” he exclaimed, almoet sinking beneath the shuddering effects of the oold tremor that passed over him: “such dreadful language is enough to @maken those who aleep around you.” “Me and my pal ain't afraid of the dead, sir” growled the Magsman, with a chuckle which seemed toetrike upon the nobleman’s mind as something chat did him harm. “I should think not!” exclaimed the Big Beggar- man, with even a coarser and more brutal laugh. “I mever did see any gbhostesses yet—~and if so be the dead does walk at times, this is a very favourable opportunity for oneof 'em to get ap and enjoy a mouthful of fresh air.” But scarcely were these words uttered, when a tremendous explosion, like the report of a cannon, sounded through the vault, accompanied with an _ efluvinm so horrible—so nauseating—so stifling, as scarcely to Jeave the nobleman and his two aasistan‘a the power to scramble up the stone steps and retreat into the purer air of the aisle of the church. The lantern, which the masked unknown carried in his hand, threw its gleaming rays upon the dis- turbed and agitated countenances of the two men, whose souls were now filled with a consternation which they vainly endeavoured to conceal from each other “ What the devil could that have been, Joe!” de- manded the Big Beggarman, throwing a stealthy look around him, as if he almost expected to see some hideous shape emerging from the obscurity that reigned beyond the scope of the lamp-light. =T should say that it was Satan warning us not te trespass in his domains,” answered the Magsman, with an ineffectual attempt at a chuckle: for the fellow was so bewildered by a din to him utterly unaccountable as to be really frightened, although he endeavoured to put a good face upon the matter. “ Banish your fears,” said the nobleman, who had remained silent for a few minutes in order most pro- bably that the recent occurrence should have time to produce a certain effect upon the men and induce them to abstain from that horrible language in which they had indulged in the vault and which sounded like tremendous blasphemy in his ears; but now perceiving that the incident was not calculated to produce any such beneficial effect, he thought it use- leas to delay any longer an explanation of the pheno- menon which had frightened them. “The noise which startled us all three,” he accordingly continued, “and which drove us so quickly from the vault, was caused by the sudden explosion of a leaden coffiz.” “ Well—I’m blowed if ever I should have thought of that!” exclaimed the Big “It is nevertheless as I tell you,” resumed the nobleman; “and you can pow understand likewise the cause of the dreadful odour which assailed us at the same moment that the din fell upon our ears. It was from the effluviam, and not from the explosive din, that I beat so rapid a retreat. But we may now return to the vault.” Thither they accordingly retraced their steps; and, when once more in the subterranean, they per- ceived that one of the coffins on the uppermost row at the farther extremity, had burst completely open, and that a half decomposed corpse was exposed to view. A shudder passed visibly over the nobleran’s frame—for hie hand trembled so violently that he nearly dropped the lantern: but, regaining his composure with a great effort, he averted his eyes from the ghastly spectacle, and began to examine the plates on the coffins of the highest tier on the right hand side from the entrance. While thus engaged, his back was turned towards the Magsman and the Big Beggarman: but every other instant he cast a rapid glance furtively around to assure himself that they were contemplating no treachery of any kind. In a few minutes he dis- covered the particular coffin-plate which, as it ap- peared, he sought: and, while his eyes lingered upon the inscription, the Magsman, who on his side had been rigidly though unsuspectedly watching ail his movements, suddenly plucked off a signet-ring from one of the rotting fingers of the corpse that lay ex- posed in the broken leaden coffin. This was the work of an instant; the nobleman saw it not—and, while the Big Beggarman nodded approvingly, Joe Warren secured the Ting, in his COMIC OOOKS. Com