The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 365: what you’re looking at

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352 THE MY:@Z1IUES OF TUE COURT. Franklin, applying a vile epithet to the young woman. “But never mind! I dare say——” ‘sWhatis that youare muttering to yourself, you wretch ?” exclaimed Nell Gibson, turning round towards the old woman with eyes flashing fire. “You'll kuow, you'll know soon enough,” re- eponded the harridan, still muttering in a scarcely audible tone as she reeled towards the staircase to ascend to her own chamber. Nell Gibson turned in deep disgust away, and followed the Buttoner from the house. “ Now, what has happened ?” she inquired, the moment they were in the street together. “JT mustn’t tell yer till we get down to the dark crib,” said the Buttoner: “and then you'll know all.” The tone in which he spoke was low, deep, and ominous; and therefore Nell Gibson naturally in- ferred that the deed had been done and that Larry Sampson was murdered. No misgiving as to any- thing else entered her mind ; and not for a moment could she conceive that the plot had failed and that the most terrible suspicions existed against herself. That the Buttoner would not tell her more nor enter into the slightest particulars in the street, seemed but a proper precaution ; and the only circumstance that struck her as being at all singular, was that she should be fetched down to the dark crib at that hour. * What am I wanted for at Bencull’s?” she therefore asked, as she and the Buttoner proceeded rapidly towards Jacob's Island. “Don't ask me a single question now,” he re- piled, in a hurried and even tremulous voice: for vile and criminal as he was, he could not contem- plate with utter indifference the murder of that fine young woman who was now leaning on his arm. They continued their way in silence; and in a few minutesreached the dark crib. Bencull opened the street-door ; and the moment Nell Gibson en- tered the back room, she perceived by the looks of the Hangman, the Mushroom Faker, and the Dur- rynacker that something was ominously amiss. Turning towards the Buttoner for an explanation, she saw that the expression of his countenance was dogged and sombre as if marked with the iron impress of some stern resolve: and then as her glance, now keea with augmenting terror, tra- velled to the featuzes of Bencull as he came in last and closed the room-door behind him, she read her doom as it were in the looks of that dreadful man. But not choosing to anticipate any evil—and indeed utterly unableto conjecture whence it could Spriug 60 as to assume an aspect at all menacing towards herself she said in that tone of inquiry which an accomplice adopts when demanding an explanation as a right, “ Now will you tell me what has been the result of this night’s enterprise ?” ‘Tis for you to tell us what Larry Sampson gave you for betraying the plot!” exclaimed the Hangman in a voice of thunder, as he turned his ferocious looks full upon the now really dismayed and startled young woman. ‘“Yes—how much did you get ?” demanded Ben- cull, with equal ferocity of voice and look. “ Whatever may have happened, I did not be- tray you—I swear that I did not!” said Nell Gibson, now recovering somewhat of her pre- sence of mind, while indignation deepened the colour upon her cheeks to the ruddiest glow. man, his eyes literally glowing upon her. “ Wry, you she-devil! Larry Sampson has not only baulked us and had the laugh at us, but he also knew that me, Bencull, and the Buttoner was the chaps that did the business t’other night at the Baronet’s " ‘‘ Yes—and he knowed all about Coffin's intend- ing to go and get the great book,” added Ben- cull, with such a concentrated ferocity that his voice sounded like the subdued roar of a wild beast. “TI am innocent of all this!” said Nell Gibson, her presence of mind rapidly failing. “You lie!” thundered the Hangman. “ We are certain that you have betrayed ua: who else could have done it? Besides, we know more of your nasty sneaking tricks than you fancy ‘6 Yes, loo here,” suddenly cried the Buttoner, producing Nell Gibson's own letter to Sir Douglas Huntingdon—that letter which she had penned at Meg Blowen’s, and which her paramour had subsequently obtained from the boy to whom she had entrusted it for delivery. “ Ah!” she cjaculated, becoming pale as death —for she saw that her doom was inevitable: and now, though she tried to speak, the words stuck in her throat, and terror subdued all further power of utterance. ; “ You see she's guilty—there’s no doubt of it !” said the Hangman : and suddenly flinging off his coat, he actually tucked up his shirt-aleeves in order more effectually to do the work of death. At the same instant Bencull threw a silk hand- kerchief round Nell Gibson's neck; and placing his hand forcibly over her mouth, he prevented her from screaming. The other ruffians, not even excepting the Buttoner, now flew upon herlike so many wild beasts upon their prey; and while some held her hands and feet, the others tugged hard at the handkerchief in order to strangle her. She struggied desperately, thoughin the iron grasp of those strong men: her cloak and bonnet were torn off—and her hair streamed down in wild dis- order. Hard, hard did she fight against death : fearful was the convulsive tenacity with which the unfortunate girl clung to life! But gradually those strong spasmodic struggles grew weaker and weaker ; and in a few more instants all was over! The villains might have despatched her more speedily by tho pistol, the knife, or the bludgeon : but they were afraid of exciting the attention of the neighbours by the report of fire-arms—and they wereequally careful of spilling blood, which would leave its traces upon the floor —inasmuch as the attention of Mr. Lawrence Sampson had now evi- dently become fixed upon the dark crib. But the work of murder was effectually done by means of strangulation : and when the appalling deed was accomplished the Buttoner suddenly burst into tears and cried like a child. “ What the devil is the meaning of this blubber- ing ?” demanded the Hangman, with a terrible im- precation. “It's nothink—on'y a sort of nervous fit that I can’t help for the moment,” whimpered the Rut- toner. ‘ There—take her away—take hor away —don't let her stare up at me with those eyes that are fixed and dull as if made of glass !— Take her away, I say !"--and the strong man shuddered from head to foot with hysterical convulsions. “T knew she would deoy it,” said the Hang- | COMME lOO© Ss