The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

246 THE COURT OF LONDON But Daniel Coffin was deaf to all appeals, and rushing on into the gallery, he set fire to the draperies in every part. Then, speeding back again, and heedless of the cries of the miserable marquis, he traversed the suite of apartments, locked the door leading into the Crimson Drawing-room, issued thence, ascended the stairs without meeting a soul, gained the attics, and passed forth to the roof of the house. Reaching the empty dwelling a little higher up the street, he descended the dark and deserted stairs of that house, and let himself out through the area. Hurrying on to that extremity of the street which was farthest from Piccadilly, he there halted to observe the result of his atrocious pro- ceeding. Nor did he wait long. In a very few minutes cries of “ Fire ”’ met his ears, a lurid light sprang up above Leveson House, and almost immediately afterward the flames were seen gushing forth from the roof. The Hangman, not choosing to be observed loitering about near the scene of his crime and his venegance, hurried away, chuckling horribly to himself and gloating over the deed which he had accomplished. It was about five o’clock in the afternoon of the following day when a post-chaise and four, on its way to London, dashed up to the door of the Green Man tavern at Blackheath, to change horses. There was one person inside, a young gentleman of exceed- — ingly handsome countenance, slender figure, and elegant appearance, and two domestics rode upon the box behind. One of these servants, who seemed the superior of the two, and was in plain clothes, the other being in livery, leaped down the moment the chaise stopped, and urged the hostlers to use all possible despatch in changing the horses. “You seem to be in a hurry? ” said the landlord, who had come out to superintend the process, and perhaps with a hope that the traveller might need some refreshment. “Yes,” answered the domestic. ‘It is Lord Algernon Cavendish who is hastening to town to see his sister, Lady Ernestina Dysart, who is dying.” “Surely, then,” said the landlord, “ they belong to the Leveson family, don’t they? ” Brockman, for he it was, answered in the affirmative. “Perhaps, then, you don’t know what has happened? ” comiclboooks.c@ im