The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

THE CAPTAIN’S VISIT 329 not been keeping him there for the last seven or eight months out of mere philanthropy, particularly as a certain sort of mystery had been observed in making him stay indoors as much as possible, and only taking him out for an airing occasionally of an evening in a carriage. I an- swered that all this had been done with the view of prevent- ing him from falling again into the hands of the infamous people with whom he had been brought up and who might have been on the lookout for him. Thereupon Jack the Foundling observed that during the time he lay stretched upon a sick-bed, in consequence of his wound, he had re- flected upon his past career, and had hoped that something would be done to prevent him from relapsing into his old habits.” ‘Then he did really seem as if he wished to turn over a new leaf? ”’ asked the prince. ‘““ No doubt of it, your Royal Highness,”’ responded Tash, taking the opportunity of the interruption to refill and empty his tumbler. “ The lad told me that some time ago Mr. Lawrence Sampson, the Bow Street officer, had tried to reclaim him, but that some evil spirit getting possession of his soul, prompted him to return to his old friends. He assured me, however, that his long illness had given his mind a better turn, and he really felt anxious to do some- - thing honest for his livelihood. I then told him that his former protector, Daniel Coffin, had that very morning been arrested for murder, and would be hanged as sure as he himself had tucked up scores in his time. The young fellow had not previously heard of the occurrence, and he certainly did not seem much affected by it, but observed that he always thought Coffin would come to some bad end.. He nevertheless did manifest some uneasiness about a young woman and her brother, named Melmoth, and who, he said, lived with Daniel Coffin. He told me that he and these Melmoths had been brought up together, and that he had a sort of affection for them. I assured him that from what I had learned they did not appear to be at all involved in Coffin’s troubles, and I even went so far as to declare that I would see something was done for them in case Coffin should go out of the world leaving them destitute. This assurance evidently gave young Jack very great satisfaction, and looking hard at me, he said, ‘ I suppose, sir, you are the (CO) nn) GDOo <Si inn