The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

THE HANGMAN’S PROCEEDINGS 305 don’t think for a moment that with all his keen scent and eagle eyes Larry Sampson could find the secret door in the passage overhead? No, no; it’s a precious deal too well hidden. Doesn’t it fit into the wainscot just as if it wasn’t a door at all? And who would think for a moment, when visiting the two chambers on the right hand in that pas- sage, that there was another room lying between them? No, no, my excellent friend, there is not the slightest chance of Larry poking his nose into the secret crib there and finding the lump of silver in the melting-pot. Besides,’ added old Jeremy, in a more serious tone, for he had been chuckling with a sort of triumphant garrulity while previously speak- ing, ‘“‘ there will be no searching of the premises at all. To search one’s premises is to treat one as an accomplice of the criminal who is arrested, but as it’s me myself that sends up the information, through you, to Larry Sampson, he can’t possibly treat me as an accomplice.” ‘“ Well, well, you know best,’ rejoined the Swag Chovey Bloak, ‘‘ and if you are satisfied, I am sure I am. For my part, I sha’n’t be at all sorry to see the Hangman hung up himself. I never liked him. Besides, he’s done for now, and useless to us. He will never put no more things in our way, and therefore the sooner he’s got rid of the better.” “Yes, yes, that’s exactly my opinion,” said Humpage. “‘ And now let’s waste no more time in words, but you be off at once to Larry Sampson’s.”’ ‘“T shall go straight there,’ answered the Swag Chovey Bloak. ‘ It’s now half-past three o’clock. By half-past five, at latest, Larry and his men will be down here. I suppose you will sit up for them.”’ ‘Yes, yes,”’ responded Humpage, in a shaking, quivering whisper. “ I am in no humour to sleep, not a bit of it. So, when you are gone, I shall wait with anxiety till Sampson and the runners come.” ‘““ Now, then, I will be off.”’ And with these words, the Swag Chovey Bloak moved upon tiptoe toward the door ' of the chamber, followed by old Humpage, who went to let him out of the house. When they had issued from the room, Daniel Coffin lay still underneath the bed until the sounds of their retreating footsteps were no longer audible, and then he crept forth from his hiding-place. The expression of his countenance (CO) nn) ( OOO) <Si nin