The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

| THE MiPstraiie. Saree artnet ie ee a TE a Fa aaa ny yon have got money to pay us—and we have no means of obtaining it unless you choose to give it;— and when once on board the ship, we shall be pri- soners no doubt and unable to come on shore again even if the captain should refuse to hand us over the balance due to us.” “Once for all I tell you that the money will be paid to vou—and I can say no more,” exclaimed the nobleman, angrily ;—“ unless indeed it be to re- mind you of the regularity, the precision, and the forethought which have characterised all the pro- ceedings from the moment we left London until the present time,—and which ought to serve you as sufficient evidence that the person or persons by whom al] these arrangements have been so effec- tually made, are not likely to fall into any error or mistake relative to so paltry s detail in the grand drama as the ensuring to you the punctual and honourable payment of the balance due. No, my good fellows—money is not such an object to me as to render it necessary that I should cheat you, or auffer you to be cheated. Moreover, I may as well observe that the captain of the Royal George will deliver you each a sealed letter, enclosing the sums due; but he is not even acquainted with the nature of the contents of those letters, and has not there- fore any inducement to purloin them.” “Well, I suppose we must take your lordship's word,” said the Magsman, after exchanging a look with the Beggarman. “In that case you had better lose no time in continuing your journey,” observed the nobleman. “ Werrington is before you—and you can easily carry your trunks on your shoulders into that town. A conveyance to Liverpool may be obtained with- out difficulty ; and in a few hours you will be stand- ing on the deck of the Royal George.” “ Come along, then, mate,” exclaimed the Mags- mao. The two ruffians accordingly took down their trunks from the roof of the travelling-carriage— threw them upon their shoulders— bade the nob!e- man farewell—and jogged leisurely along the road to Warrington. While thus journeying on, Mr. Joseph Warren and Mr. Stephen Price discussed their plans and laid down the course which circumstances now ren- dered it necessary for them te pursue: but as the resolutions to whioh they thus came will trans. pire in the sequel, we need not record them now. Suffice it, therefore, to aay that on gaining War- rington they entered a tavern, where they ordered dinner; and while it was being gotten ready, they wrote letters to the Gallows’ Widow and Carrotty Poll in London. These they conveyed to the post with their own hands, some hanger-on about the inn showing them the way; and, having enjoyed a hearty meal, they took their places outside a coach bound to Li l. The short distance of eighteen miles was accom- plished pleasantly enough ; for the two men smoked cigars the whole way, and got down to refresh themselves with glasses of ale every time the vehicle stopped. It was about five o’clock in the evening when they entered Liverpool; and on inquiring in the proper quarter, they soon ascertained that a brig emied the Royal George was lying in the Mersey, ready to sail for the United States of North America. A boat conveyed them on board the a vessel; and, on being introduced to the captain they announced themselves, the Magsman by the name of Jones and the Big Beggarman by the ap- pellation of Thompson. “All right,” said the skipper, who was a short thick set, Ballet-headed, red-faced man, attired in a complete syit of rough blue, and with a gold- laced band round his cap. “Come down below mates—and we'll have two or three words in private together.” The Magsman and the Big Beggarman followed | the captain down the companion-ladder into a neat little cabia, lighted by a lamp suspended to the ceiling : for as it wag now past sunset snd the shades of night were gathering fast around, the stern win- dows looked dull and lustreless as lead. “Sit down, my friends—make yourglves at home,” said the captain, as he opened a locker and produced a bottle of spirits, glasses, and cigars. “We shall have a pleasant trip—and my instruc- tions are to treat you as weil as the rough accommo- dations of shipboard will permit. Come— help yourselves: the grog is good—the havannahs ex- cellent.” “Have you got any letters for us” demanded the Magsman, scarcely able to curb his impatience: for he naturally considered that the response to this question would prove at once whether the nobleman had acted honourably or had played a treacherous part. ‘‘Yea—one for Mr. Jones—and tother for Mr, Thompson,” said the captain, producing two sealed packets from the locker whence he had taken the | refreshments, “Here they are—and I’ll leave you to read them by yourselves for afew minutes while I give some orders on deck.” Thus speaking the mariner threw the letters upon the table, and then quitted the cabin, closing behind him the door at the bottom of the companion. “Well—I suppose it’s all right,” said the Big Beggarman, opening the packet addressed to Mr, Thompson, while his companion proceeded to inspect the one directed to Mr. Jones. “ Damnation !” themdered the latter, suddenty breaking the short pause which had occurred, during which they had both run their eyes over the contents of the letters. “ We weren’t prepared for this, Price t” he exclaimed in a tone of diabolical ferocity, at the same time dashing his elenched fist so violently down upon the table that he made the bottle and glasses dance with a jingling sound. “ He’s got the better of us so far, Joe,” returned the Big Beggarman, in a voice expressive of a more deeply concentrated rage. “ But what’s to be done?” At this moment the cheesful chorus of the sailors, accompanying the heaving up of the anchor, came swelling and oscillating upon the ears of the two men: and they knew thereby that the ship was about to sau. Springing from his seat with the fury of a goaded lion, the Magsman tore open the door and rushed up the companion-ladder: but his head came in con- tact with something that barred his way—he thrust up his hands in the darkness—and they encountered the hatch which was fast battened down over the aperture communicating with the deck. A growl, terrible and savage as that of a byzna, burst from his throat; and with all his herculean strength he endeavoured to force up the trap-door. But it resisted hia effyrts as completely as if he ECOMICOOOKS CO