The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

THE GATHERING OF A STORM 283 don’t bear the poor thing any more ill-will, wherever she is.” ‘Tsn’t it strange,” asked the Hangman, totally unabashed, ‘‘ that nothing’s been heard of her for so long? ”’ ‘‘Wery strange indeed,’’ answered Mother Franklin. ‘‘ The last night I ever saw her I remember I was uncommon lushy, and she said some cutting things to me. The But- toner came to fetch her away, and she never returned no more.”’ ‘‘ Where did he take her to?” asked Coffin, looking as innocent as his hangdog countenance would permit him. ‘“ Ah! that’s more than I can say. If I had known at the time, I should have gone and inquired after her when I found that she didn’t come back.” ‘Well, I suppose, now that you have seen the Buttoner again, you have asked him what became of Nell?” and Daniel Coffin once more looked very hard in Mother Frank- lin’s face. At this moment the street door was heard to open, evi- dently by means of a latch-key, and Mother Franklin ob- served, ‘“‘ Here’s missus,”’ having said which she went forth very hurriedly into the passage, as if to give some warning, or intercept Mrs. Young and the person who had just entered with her; for that the mistress of the house had returned with a companion was apparent from the sounds of two persons’ footsteps in the passage. The Hangman, instantaneously suspecting that Mrs. Young’s companion was the Buttoner, and recognizing in Mother Franklin’s sudden disappearance a further proof that treachery was intended, lost no time in following her into the passage, and there, sure enough, he beheld the paramour of the murdered Nell Gibson. There was a light in the passage, and the Hangman’s countenance was seen to grow instantaneously diabolic in its expression, but in a moment, mastering his rage, he extended his hand to the Buttoner, saying, ‘“‘ Ah, old fellow! I heard that you had come back. How do you find yourself? ”’ The man, who had a very miserable and downcast aspect, as if a load of care were upon his mind, said, ‘‘ I can’t shake hands with you, Coffin. I have something here that won’t let me,” and he placed his hand upon his heart. ‘“‘ What the devil does all this mean? ” growled the Hang- (C(O) nn) GDoOo (CO in