The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 332: what you’re looking at

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

306 THE COURT OF LONDON was even more diabolic than when he had been startled by catching the reflection of his features in the looking-glass. With all the concentrated rage of a fiend, he was panting for revenge. His worst fears were confirmed, Humpage meant to betray him, and now he actually yearned to imbrue his hands in the old man’s blood. “In two hours Larry Sampson and his men will be here, eh?”’ he muttered to himself. ‘‘ But by that time I shall be far away. Two hours, indeed! Ten minutes are now enough for the work that I have got to do. I am almost sorry I let that old scoundrel, the Swag Chovey Bloak, get off so easy, but it wouldn’t have done to reveal myself from under the bed. At the first appearance of my precious countenance peeping forth, they would have raised an alarm before I could have knocked either of them on the head, the old housekeeper would have heard their cries, and the game would have been up with me. But as it is, I am right enough now.” : Such were the Hangman’s musings as he concealed himself behind one of the bed-curtains. He felt pretty well assured that old Jeremy Humpage would return to his chamber, either to lie down and rest, or else to wash himself, for it was quite evident that he had been up all night in company with the Swag Chovey Bloak, and engaged in the pleasing occu- pation of melting down four hundred pounds’ worth of silver plate. The Hangman’s conjecture was correct relative to the return of old Jeremy Humpage to the chamber, so soon as he had shown his brother fence out of the house. Still and motionless as a statue behind the curtain, Daniel Coffin listened with breathless attention, and in the course of a few minutes he heard the old man’s stealthy steps approaching along the passage. “He walks as if he was treading on eggs,” said the Hang- man to himself. ‘ That’s because he’s afraid of disturbing me, but I think it’s a deuced deal more likely that I shall disturb him in a minute or two.” As the monster thus mused internally, he drew forth his terrible clasp-knife, and opened the blade, which, by means of a spring or catch, remained fixed, rendering the weapon as serviceably formidable as a stiletto. Jeremy Humpage entered the chamber very noiselessly, connicloookKks CO