The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 219: what you’re looking at

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~~ ~~ in his manner: he coukin’t have concealed it—it would have been uppermost in his mind, and so have slLvwed iteelf in his obserwations. But it didn’t: and so I’m as sure that he got loads of swag last night as that I’m suckling this here blessed babby.” « What « clever woman you be, Polly,” was the campliment now paid her by her husband. “ 'd have thought you was pumping the Cannibal all the time you seemed to be chatting so cosy and for- miliar ?” “Well, but it was 90,” replied Mrs. Tugs; “and if that feller hasn't got his pockets lined with blunt, Vil eat this babby up at a mouthful—I will.” “A precious mean chap he is, then!” exclaimed Tugs now looking particularly ferocious through the black grime on his face THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “This will be good news for him,” said Tugs “ He told me he sbouldn’t be back till just upon daylight, and I'm going to sit up for him.” “Then you can deliver my message,” said Madge: and appearing to be somewhat in a hurry, she took her . “Well, didn’t I manage capital 4o perwent the woman staying ?” said Tugs. “If she had, Chiffin would have flitted away on hearing the news, and we should have been baniked in our job—eh, Polly ?” ““Yea--you managed capital,” responded the woman, “Now mind yots manage as well presently when the thing is to be done—that’s all.” until their faces almost met; and in su whis- pers did they discourse upon the murderous project “Mean!” echoed his wife: “he's « measly skin- | they had flint—coming here, bolting our grub, and swallow- ing our lush, and just giving us a shilling or two tuw’rds housekeeping, when he ought to come down : handsome and make us a jolly good present. I'm sick of such conduct, I be.” “Well, Polly, if what’s passing in my mind is passing in your’n too, we'll have the whole of his blunt afore many hours is over:”--and the man looked hard at his wife to read het auswer in her equntenance. | _ & When a chap behaves his-self as Chiffin is doing now,” she replied, “J would as soon draw a knife across his throat and sink him in the canal as I'd eat my dinner. So if you're the man, Tugs, to do the job, I’m the woman as will help yer.” “Then I’m blowed if it ian’t as good as done,” re- eponded the Blue-ruin Carrier: “perwided we set- tles how it és to be dune—that’s all.” “Done? Why, in the way I’ve said,” was the 1 quick answet given by his wife. “ Hush! same one calls.” @ Tugs hastily jumped up from his seat, and thrust | yo his head out of the hatchway of the cabin. A woman In the mean time Madge Somers, when quitting the barge, had pursued her way along the towing- path; and at a short distance she encountered Chif.- fin the Cannibal. “Ah!” she exclaimed: “then you have altered mind P”” “ Altered my mind ?” he repeated, in a growii tone. “What ths douse are you talking aboat?” © “Why, in coming back so soon—that is how you have altered your mint: for I suppose you are now on your way to the burge ?” “To be sure. 2 only just came out to get a mouthful of fresh acc. I can’t endure being cooped up in that coffin-!iko place.” , “Then what mado you tell those people that you did not inten to return till close upon day- hght ?” “You don’t meau to say they told you that?” exclaimed Chiffin. “ But I do though: and that’s the reason I did not stop. I however left a message with them for “And what's it about? Have you made it all gloom Tugs at once Madge Somers. | “All right!” he said. “Come on board.” Madge accordingly stepped on the barge, and de- but she refused to take it—immediately adding, “ Where is he P” “ What news have you got for him P” asked Tugs, evading the woman’s question. “Good news,” she replied, “ But where is he, I ask P”’ “ Well, that’s a pity,” said Tuga: ‘for he’s gone out for the night again.” “How provoking!” exclaimed Madge Somers “‘ But if he didn’t mind running these risks, what was the use of my troubling myself to get the thing put right and equare for him? I cannot wait till he re- turns—I cannot come back again when he is likely to be here; and therefore I must leave a message with you. You can tell him that the business is hushed up, and that her ladyship hes intimated to the police that all her things have been restored to her on condition that she would not move any fur- ther in the matter, and that es she has got them back her object is answered. Of course a single word from her ladyship was sufficient to stop the proceedings ; and so Chiffin hes nothing more to fear in that quarter.” —_ ss SS ass “Yes—after a deal of trouble,” responded Madge. “Her i rahip has intimated to tectives who had the thing in hand, that not wish the proceedings to go any farther. excuse she made wae that somebody been to her, brought all the things back that had been stolen pused to grant the request. In short, she gave the detectives to understand that she did not choose to have the trouble and discomfort of a prosecution, especially as she was very soon going out of town. The detectives went and called upon her ladyship in consequence of this note which she sent them : but as she gave them each a pretty handsome sum for the trouble they had already taken, they of course pronaised to tollow her directions. So as far aa that affair goce, you are safe enough. I saw Tony Wilkins just now; and he told me that you had a fine affair of it las¢ night—heaps of money, besides a lot of diamonds and other valuables: so what with the swag you got from Lady the money I gave you a little time back, and the produce of last night, you must be quite rich.” “Well, do you mean to turn borrower, Madge P** asked Chiffin, evidently not relishing the woman's ECOMRRICLO© (C SS CO