The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 125: what you’re looking at

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110 THE MYSTERIES. a teat ata aaa wanted, I should soon be bringing the Bow Street runners about him. The older he got, the more frightened he grew. But he needn't have enter- tained such fears for me. I have seen too much to act with anything like a flagrant imprudence. And therefore, I tell you again that we may use this money, if we do it cautiously.” “ It would really be a sin to forego such a chance,” said Page, in a musing manner: “ especially after having made a successful beginning with the four pieces that we changed to-day. Besides, after all the vapouring and boasting at Hodson and Morley’s, it would be wretched indeed to find ourselves taken down so many pegs. ‘The coin is certainly admira- ble,” he observed, balancing one of the spurious guineas on the tip of his fore-finger. * Admirable!” repeated Julia: “I am verv sure that not even an officer of the Mint himseit could detect it, unless he cut it in two. The weight is the same—there’s a thin coating of gold ali over—and it is cast in one ot the Mint dies. My father was turned out of the Society of Friends on account of losing nis place at the Mint through being suspected of stealing the moulds. But tne authorities could not bring it home to him-—and so he es¢aped punishment.” “ And this letter,” observed Page, -taking from the pocket-book the one that bore the Ayesbury post-mark, and that related to the manner in which the “goods,” were to be packed and sent,—“ this letter, I suppose, referred to some transaction re- specting a supply of spurious coin ? © Yes: the Magsman managed the ‘ob—and my father coined the money. ‘Three thousand guineas were first despatched to Aylesbury; and a auantity tore was ordered. But for some reason which I never heard, this second supply was not sent. { dare say,” added Julia, “ that it 1s to this cireum- stance we are indebted forthe possession ot the amount in that cupboard.” “Yes—I see by this letter that the bankers in- tended to have a second remittance of three thousand in six months,” said Page. ‘That would have been on the 17th of last September: but I suppose that they got frightened and revoked the bargain. Hov- ever, all this does not relate to our own affairs. What we must now do is to endeavour to negotiate with Lady Letitia Lade or Mr. Meagles for the sale of all the papers concerning Hannah Lightfoot’s business; and then we will pay a visit to Aylesbury to discover, if possible, a certain Richard Stamford, to whom we can be of great use.” “In what way 2?” asked Julia. . “He was the gentleman who was confined wit me in the cellar underneath that house adjoining your own in the court,” returned Page. “But I will tell youall about that baronet and his misfortunes.” Mr. Page then proceeded to narrate to his wife those circumstances in connexion with Sir Richard Stamford which are already known to the reader ; and we will now leave the worthy couple to discuss their schemes and their brandy simultaneously— which they did until the clock struck midnight, ee See, SLL ee NE CHAPTER XXXII. MR. RAMSEY. In the meantime scenes of interest were taking place elsewhere; for in the early part of this same evening on which Mr. and Mrs. Page were thus discoursing and enjoying themselves, a tall, handsome, genteel man, enveloped in an ample cloak, landed from a wherry in the immediate neighbourhood of Horsly- down, and, having dismissed the boat, sped rapidly towards the Beggar’s Staff. This individual was about eight-and-twenty years of age. His figure was slight, but admirably pro- portioned, and by no means deficient in strength: his features were regular and of the Grecian cast;—his complexion was of a clear olive—and it would be kn possible to imagine finer eyes or more beautiful teeth on the part of one of the sterner sex. His manners were prepossessing, even to fascination ; and there was so refined—nay, even so noble an expres- sion in the ensemble of his countenance, that an ob- server would have unhesitatingly marked him as one eminently caicufated to make friends with men and conquests amongst women. It was about seven o’clock, and the evening was very dark, when this individual landed on the bank of tne Thames in the vicinity of Horslydown. A few minutes rapid walking brought him to the Beg- gar’s Statt, the exterior of which he however surveyed vor «, few seconds ere he crossed the threshold, as 1f to assure himself that it was the place which had been described to him. Satisfied with this briet scrutiny, he boidly entered the boozing-ken, and found himself m he midst ot a motley company which seemed to be the rakings of all the vilest dregs of a vile neigh- bourhood. The Big Beggarman and Carrotty Poll were serv- ing at the bar; and to them did the new-comer ad- dress a whispered inquiry for Mr. Joseph Warren. “ Who are you?” demanded the Big Beggarman, eyeing his querist suspiciously. “ My name is Ramsey—Philip Ramsey of Ayles- bury,” was the immediate response. “Oh! that’s all right!” chimed in Carrotty Poll. ‘“You’re not unknown to us, sir,’ she added, with a sly smile. ‘ Please to walk round;”—and she opened the little gate which led behind the enclosure whence the liquors were dispensed. Ramsey accordingly entered the diminutive par- lour, into which he was followed by the Big Beggar- man and Carrotty Poll, a slip-shod waiter of mar- vellously seedy aspect being left to attend at the bar. « Pray sit down, sir,” said the Beggarman. “ As my daughter just now observed, your name’s quite familiar to us in this here place. In fact, I was one of the party that managed the spree at Stamford Manor a little while back.” “ Ah! you allude to the carrying off of the baro- net 2” exclaimed Ramsey, unhooking his cloak at the collar. “Then you are doubtless a friend and confidant of Joseph Warren 2?” “ Better knowed as the Magsman,” interjected the landlord of the Beggar’s Staff “ Yes—me and that fine feller are staunch pals ; and what’s his business is my business—and what’s my business is his’n.” “Ts he to be seen now ?” inquired Ramsey, whose countenance wore an expression of deep anxiety. oil i” COLMA Ghooksscom