The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURZ. 347 Gibson, fixing a searching glance upea Sampson so as to penetrate into the depths of his soul aod thus assure herself that he really suspected nothing. we ‘Now, let us undetstand the whole thing tho- roughly, so that there may be no mistake,” he observed, motioning Nell Gibson to take a seat and handing her a glase of wine. “ Aocording to what you have previously told me, the Hangman’s _ gang contemplate some desperate and astounding deed of villany, the nature of which is however unknown to you. They have already had two or three consultations, from which you have been ex- claded; and now to-night the last consultation is to be held, to settle the whole plan and arrange all the proceedings. Is not this it ?” “That is exactly how the matter stands, Mr. Sampson,” replied Nell Gibson. “Well, then,” resumed the Officer “you must now tell me all over again exactly what you pro- pose; because having a great many different things tu think of, I may not perhaps exactly remember all you have sald to me at our previous interviews.” “TI can explain myself over again in a very few words,” said Nell Gibson. “ You must understand that at the back of the dark crib there is a sort of gallery, overlooking the ditch——” “‘Yee—and overhanging it also,” interrupted Sampson. “After you came to me on the first occasion, I went down to the Folly Bridges and took a survey of the place. Gf course | had often been there before; but after what you told me I thought it best to get an accurate idea of the locality. And now plesse to continue your 6x- planations.” “Since you have been down to the place to look at it so particolarly,” resumed Nell, “you may heve noticed that if you get on the wooden bridge ‘ you can easily climb along to the gallery at the beck of thé dark crib; and there you can lie con- cealed, listening at the window to all that takes place inside the back room.” “Well, the plan is feasible enougb,” observed Sampson, steadily and composedly meeting the keen and penetrating look which Neli Gibson fixed upon him from beneath her eyelids; ani thus while she fancied that he did not perceive how in- tently though furtively she was watching him, he ‘ Bot only saw that be was thus scrutinised, but also ' encountered the scrutiny without exciting a suspi- cion. “And how many do you think will bg there to-night?” he inquired.- * Abt there-will be several of them,” answered Nell Gibson: “for the best part of the gang are in this business; rad that’s the reason why I know it must be something of the utmost import- ance. . “ And have you failed to wheedle the secret out of the Buttoner ? for he is your fancy man, I be- Heve,” said Larry Sampson. “The Buttoner ia as close as the door of New- gate and as down as the knocker itself,’ replied Rell. “@ When he was drunk I have tried to pump him; bat it was all no go. Bésides which, the Buttoner never will trust a woman; aud so if he ; did tell me anything, it cauldn’t be relied on as tree—it woald only be some inventivun of his to pot me on a.wrong scent. But I kuow that whatever the business now in hand may be, ~aneew gg Eig ie ee) = e- a we ee there’s murder in it—and also the hope of an im- mense booty ——” “And how do you know this?” inquired Samp- son. “Because the Battoner cleaned up his pistols this morning, and sharpened the blade of a hide- ous clasp-knife that he’s got. He didu’t think I paid particular attention to what he was duingg but I did though. Moreover, I dropped in, quite in a leisurely way, at the dark crib this afternoon; and I saw Bencull busy examining his pistule also. The Mushroom Faker arrived at the dark crib last : night, and brought his pistols with him—and I heard him say in an under-tone to Bencull some. thing about its being very probable that they should soon have more money than they would possibly know what to do with.” “ But could; not you by some means or another | secrete yourself in the gallery behind the dark crib and hear what is going on to-night?” asked Sampson, raising a sort of objection merely to prevent Nell Gibson from thinking that he fell too readily into the snare. * “If I could, you may depend upon it [ wonld,” she answered: “but it’s impossible. I must get back now as quick as I can to Mother Young’ss and I shan’t be abi to stir out again all the even- ing. No, Mr. Sampson —this is a thing that you must take in hand yourselfe and remember that when I first caine to you, our solemn understand. ing was chat qhatorer took place between us was not to be comihunicated to a third person. But I must be off now,” she exclaimed, rising from her seat as she heard a clock in another room striking eight. “But I have not yet given you any portion of the reward that you stipulated for,” observed Sampson. . “I will come for it when the business is over,” said Nell Gibson. “Besides, the best and most welcome reward that I can have, is to revenge my- self for the ill-treatment of the Buttonér —the in- sulting taunts of the Hanginan, becaase I refused to submit to his wishes—anod the coarse brutality of that detestable Bencull. In fact, Mr. Sampson, as I have told you before, I have a thousand Wrongs to avenge against shose villains; and now is the time.”. “Yes—there shall.be ample revenge for you, Miss Gibson,” observed Larry. “ Whatever these fellows plot and plan to-night, shall send them all to the scaffuld. But what time will they be assem- bied in their ruffian conclave 2?” * At about eleven o'clock,” returned Nell. “If you secrete yourself in the gallery at that hour, it will be ample time.” “ And you are certain that there Is no danger of any of the fellows going out into that gallery ” * Not a bit of it,” responded Nell Gibson: “you will not incur the alighfe:t peril.” The young woman then took her departure: and when she was gone, Larry Sampson thought with- in himself, “The plot is a clumsy one; and even withqut Mother Franklin’s warning, I shoald not have fallen very readily into the snare. But that Nell Gibson is a clever and a cunning girl, and performs her part well. comrades will all be astonished at the lesson I shall read them to-night.” The Bow Street O&cer then reeumed the peruse ee a @am * o«=___” However, she and her- a os | jo COMME lOO© Ss