The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 342: what you’re looking at

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

$27 Caer errr creer cece a a, you have got money to pay us—and we have no means of obtaining it unless you chooee to give it ;— and when once on board the ship, we shall be pri- secers no doubt and unabie te ceme 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 t vou—and I can say no more,” exciaimed the nobleman, angrily ;—“ unless indeed it be to re- zuind 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 suflicient evidence that the person or persons by whom all these arrangements have been so effec- tually made, are not likely to fall into any error or mistake relattve to so paltry a detail in the grand | drama as the eusuring 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 saffer you to be cheated. Moreover, I may as well ' observe (hat the captain of the Royal George will | deliver you each a sealed letter, enclosing the sums ‘doe; 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, | suppose we most take your lordship’s word,” said the Magsman, after exchanging a look with the Bepgarman. “In that case you had better lose no time in eontineing your joarney,” observed the nobleman. * Warrington ts before yon—and you can easily eetry your trunks on your shoulders into that town. A conveyance to Liverpool may be obtained with- | eat difficaity ; and in a few hours you will be stand- | jag on the deck of the Royal George.” “Come along, then, mate,” exclaimed the Mags- man, | The two ruffians accordingly took down their | Wanks from the roof of the travelling-carriage— | threw them upon their shoulders— bade the noble- | man farewell—and jogged leisurely along the road to Warrington. | White thas journeying on, Mr. Joseph Warrea , and Mr. Stephen Price discussed their plans and | laid down the course which circumstances now ren- ' dered it necessary for them to pursue: but as the ‘tésolations to which they thus came will trans. pire in the sequel, we need not record them now. Saffice it, therefore, to say that on gaining War- tiagton they entered a tavern, where they ordered ‘ daner; 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 len showing them the way; and, having enjoyed a ' hearty meal, they took their places outside a coach bound to Liverpool. The short distance of eighteen miles was accom- plished pleasantly enough ; for the two men smoked Cigate the whole way, and got down to refresh 'themeetves with glasses of ale every time the ' Vehicle stopped. It was about five o’clook in the evening when they entered Liverpool; and on inquiring in the proper quarter, they soon ascertained that a brig called teady to sail for the United States of North America, A boat conveyed them on board the the Royal George was lyiug in the Mersey, to vessel; and, on being introduced to the captain, they announced themselves, the Magaman by the name of Jones and the Big Beggarmaa by the ap- pellation of Thompson. “All right,” said the skipper, who was a short, thick set, bullet-headed, red-faced mman, attired in a complete suit of rough blue, and with a gold- laced band round his cap. “Come down below, mates —and we'll have two or three werds in private tugether.” The Magsman and the Big Beggarman followed the captain down the companion-ladder into a neat little cabin, lighted by a lamp suspended to: the ceiling : for as it was now past sunset and the shades of night were gathering fast around, the stern win- dows looked dull and lustreless as lead. “Sit down, my friends—make yourselves at home,” said the captain, as he opened a locker and produced a bottle ef spirits, glasses, and cigars “We shall have a pleasant trip—and my instruo- 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. ‘‘Yes—one for Mr. Jones—and t’other 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 !” thundered the latter, suddenly 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 he exclaimed in a tone of diabolical ferocity, at the same time dashing his clenched 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 inoment the cheerful 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 sai Springing from his seat with the fary of 3 goaded lion, the Magaman 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 hyena, burst fru: his throat; and with all his herculean strengii: he endeavoured to force up the trap-door. But it resisted his effurts as co:npletcly as if he ommD ]= as=aED be COMGROO S COMM