The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

=P qe THE MYSTERIZEG OF THE COURT. os risk must however be run; and the four ruffians made up their minds accordingly. After repeated references to a huge silver watch which he carried in his fob, Mr. Beneull at last in- timated that it was now eleven o'clock; and the Battoner was just suggesting that they should wait another quarter of an hour before rushing out into the gallery, when a knock was heard at the . street door. “Who can that be?” said Bencull, in a tone of vexation. “Perhaps old Jeremy Huampage—or the Swag Chovey Bl »ak——” * Well, whoever it is,” interrupted the Buttoner, “he rmoustn't be let into our secrets. Tell him there’s summut wery partickler and private going oo——" “Qh! leave me to make an excuse,” growled Bencull; and taking up the light he went to the door. - But no pencan describe the mingled aston- ishment and dismay which seized upon him, when the flickering rays «-f the candle fell upon the cuunte:.ance of Mr. Lawrence Sampson ! THE RESULIS OF THE PLOF. “Aun! Bencull, how are you ” said the bow Street official, in an easy off-hand manner. “The fact is that I wanted to have a word or two with you, and thought this as good a time as any.” Thus speaking, Mr. Sampson unceremoniously mtered the house—passed by Bencull—and pro- cceded straight to the room at the back. Bencull, recovering somewhat from his astonishment, hastily shat the door and fulluwed close behind, - the light whioh he carried revealing the person of the new-comer to the Buttoner, the Mushroom Faker, eod the Durrynacker. These individuals were as rauch astounded as the landlord of the place had been, on beholding the object of their murderous purpose thas familiarly and coolly appear before them. He was attired fo his usual manoer, and had his hands thrust into the depths of his capa- cious breeches’. pockets. Entering the room and throwing himself leisurely upon a chair, Mr. Sampson glanced around him with a pecoliar smile, observing, “ Well, there are no strange faces here. Ihave had the pleasure of being acquainted with every one of you for a long time past—personally at least, if not to speak to.” There was a slight accent of irony in his tone aod a similar expression in his look; so that the four ruffians exchanged dubious aod inquiring glances with each other, as much as to say, “ What on earth does all this mean?”. Indeed, they knew not what to think nor what to do; but with a sort of consternation apon them, they awaited in silence for Larry Sampeon to explain himself farther. “Now, my good frieuds,” resumed the officer, pushing his chair back against the wall so that no one could get behind him, and then lounging in it with an easy and confident manner, as if he fele assored that though in the lion's den, he was per. feetly safe ;—“ now, my good friends,” he repeated, “don’t you think that all your united wislom— especially when cembined with that of Daaiel 849 Coffin—should have devised some scheme more feasible and likely-looking than this clumsy affair which you have tramped up to ensnare me ?” “Trapped, by goles!” exclaimed Benoull, his countenance becoming black as thunder. “Nosed upon, as sure as fate!” muttered the Mushroom Faker. “Done brown!” added Bob the Durrynacker, also in an under-tone. “ Perdition seize that Nell Gibson ” murmured the Buttoner between his set teeth, as he clenched his hands with convulsive violence,—his mind being already intent on a horrible revenge for what be supposed to be the perfidy of his mistress. “Need I tell you what ridiculous figares you cut?” resumed Lerry Sampson, secretly enjoying their confusion: “but I only wish that your ac- complies Nell Gibson was here to see how com- plete,y all her artifices have been penetrated by me. As for your friend the Hangman, I suppose he has gone up to my house in the hope of obtaint ing possession of my secret register. He will be miserably disappointed,” added the officer drily. “You are the Chinese langvidge, Mr Sampson,” growled Bencul), endeavouring to put a good face on the matter, if possible. “ We don't uoderstand you: there ain’t no plot—no scheme— a0 nothink———” “Denial is useless, my good fellow,” interrupted the officer. “ You expected that I should be con- cealed in the gallery outside here at eleven o'clock: but instead of that, I thought it would be better to drop io as I have done, and tell you to beware in futare how you plot against me. After the glimpse whieh the Hangman obtained of my seeret book one day, he should have kaown that there are few things done in London which escape my know- ledge: and perhaps you will be surprised when I tell you that the origin of the fire at Sir Douglas Huatingdon’s House a week ago is known to me——" a" “Then, by goles!” shouted Bencull, starting from his seat, “ there’s no floubt as to who——” “No doubt at all!* exclained the Buttoner, dashing his. clenched fist violently against the table. “ Patience, patience,” said Larry Sampson, coolly. “I tell you that it is vain and useless for you to conjecture how I obtained my information. Every crime committed in London is known to me; and the authors of it are likewise known: but it doesn’t slways soit my purposes to bring them af once to justice :”"—then fixing his eyes upon Ben- cull and the BDuttoner, he said, “ You two men and Daniel Coffin were the authors of that fire at Sir Douglas Huntingdon’s! You forced an entrance into the stable with the intention of breaking into the dwelling-house; but the light fell from your lantern, and the place was soon in a blase. Is this true? or is it not? Fools!” ejacalated Larry Sampson, contemptuously ; “if such a mysterious circamstance as that is known to me in all ite details, howdo you think that this miserable clumsy murder-plot of your’s could escape my knowledge” Bencull and the Buttoner now exchanged lo of gloomy alarm: for they felt persuaded that they were about to be apprehended on account of the burglary and fire at the Baronet'’s;—while the Durryoacker and the Mushroom Faker likewise fancied that such wae tu be their two comrader’ COMME lOO© Ss