The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

a A NT es ee ei us all,’”’ responded the Kinchin-Grand: “so look alive, Old Bloak, and bring in the lush.” The landlord’s features underwent a species of grim relaxation as he received the silver from Page’s hand: but before he departed to execute the com- mission, he sounded each coin on the table :—then, quite satisfied with the result of a process which was doubtless very necessary in such an establishment, he used all possible despatch to supply the amount of malt liquor ordered. The health of the individuat who had provided this treat was now proposed by the Kinchin-Grand *n a speech stuffed so full of slang terms and flash expressions that had Mr. Page been at a Chinese banquet, with a Mandarin holding forth in his own language at the head of the table, the whole affair would have proved equally intelligible. However, the commercial traveller’s health was drunk with uproarious glee; and almost immediately after this ceremony was performed, the Magsman entered the room. _The appearance of that formidable personage was the signal for fresh outbursts of rejoicing. The boys looked upon him as affording the brightest example that could possibly be offered to their contemplation, —a sort of thieves’ cynosure, combining all the ad- mirable qualities of Dick Turpin, Jack Sheppard, and other individuals noted in the Newgate calendar, —a hero in fine, the mere mention of whose name was sufficient to excite the fires of emulation ia every breast. On the other hand, the girls surveyed him with profound deference and respect; and had King George III entered the place at that mo- ment, the young prostitutes would not have thought half so much of the company of that monarch as of the presence of one whose marvellous deeds were calculated, if recorded in print, to invest the annals of crime with the interest of romance. The Magsman shook hands with the Kinchin- Grand and Shickster Sal, and then bestowed the same mark of condescension upon Page. He like- Wise dispensed a few shillings in regaling the juvenile horde; and, having apologised for leaving the de- lectable company in such haste, he took his departure with the commercial traveller. ““Well—what do you think of that scene?” said the Magsman to his companion, when they had gained the street, along which they proceeded in the direction of Cripplegate. “T could not have believed that such places ex- isted in the heart of a city which boasts its wealth, its civilisation, and its philanthropy,’ answered Page, speaking with an emphasis congenial to his feelings. “Ah! there are more extraordinary things than that to be seen in London, I can assure you,” re- turned the Magsman; “and may be you’ll become acquainted with them some day or another. Lord! what a tale I could tell if I was examined before a Committee of the House of Commons, as they call it! Talk of aman being a Prime Minister who knows nothing—positively nothing—of the misery, poverty, and wretchedness which the working-classes endure : it is ridiculous !” “Ridiculous, indeed!” repeated Page. At this moment they had reached the end of the lane which joins Fore Street ; and as there was a hack- ney coach blocking up the way, Page stepped behind the Magsman to let him proceed first, as only one person could pass by at a time, But just as Page was a —w ei eee ee ee THE MYSTERIES. a picking his way between the vehicle and the buildings on his right, the Magsman tumed suddenly back —seized him violently round the waist with both arms—and hurled him completely into the hackney - coach, the door of which was wide open at the mo- ment. A man and a woman inside the vehicle, caught the commercial traveller as he was thus tossed in upon them; and while a gag was slipped into his mouth by one of these individuals, his eyes were blindfolded by the other. The Magsman instantly leapt in, after the per- formance of this feat; and the hackney-coach drove rapidly away. Page now heard the windows drawn up; and almost at the same time, the Magsman’s voice sounded in his ears, saying, “ We don’t want to suf- focate you, old fellow: and so the gag shall be taken out of your mouth. But recollect, that if you ven- ture to speak a word even too loud—much less at- tempt a cry—you’rea dead man. Now then, Lizzy, let his clapper wag again.” The Gallows’ Widow removed the gag in obedi- ence to this command ; and page now breathed freely in one sense, though not in another—for an awful consternation was upon him, and death appeared to stare him in the face. “You see, my ben-cull,”’ resumed the Magsman, after a pause, and speaking in a cool, deliberate tone, “the fact is that you’re caught in your own net. The tables are turned upon you—and you must now take the consequences.” “ Will you murder me?” asked Page, witha hollow groan. “ Not such a fool as that,” responded the Mags- man. “Your carcase would not be even worth the price of dog’s-meat for the same weight in horse- flesh: whereas you may manage to raise five hun- dred guineas for your ransom.” “ Five hundred guineas !” ejaculated the miserable commercial traveller, now bitterly repenting his folly in entering into this enterprise against the for- midable enemies who had not only baffled him but also got him completely in their power. “Well, ain’t it enough?” growled a voice, which Page immediately recognised to be that of the Big Beggarman. The commercial traveller groaned again, but made no reply; and throwing himself back in the vehicle, he gave way to his nelancholy reflections. The Gallows’ W dow, the Magsman, and the land- lord of the Beggar’s Staff now proceeded to chat familiarly amongst themselves; and the coach rolled rapidly along, the driver frequently whipping his horses to increase thcir speed. Upwards of three quarters of an hour thus passed ; and at length the vehicle stopped. Page was imme- diately compelled to alight: and he was conducted | between the Magsman and the Big Beggarman along a place which he took to be a court or alley, —for the mere fact of being blindfolded sharpened his perception relative to the nature of the echoes raised by the trampling of feet and the sounds of voices. “Hold your tongue, mind,” said the Magsiuan as they thus proceeded onward: “or it will be the worse for you, depend upon it.” “ The butt-end of a horse-pistol is a nasty thing coming across one’s brains,” added the Beggarman. The commercial traveller remained silent accor- dingly ; and in a few minutes he was led up two or remem I iia a COM Ghooksscom