The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXIV ANOTHER DARK PLOT — A DARING ADVENTURE On descending into his little parlour, after perpetrating this deed of treachery, the Big Beggarman hastily summoned his daughter from the bar; and, closing the door, he com- municated to her all that had taken place. Carrotty Poll was at first sorely troubled when she learned that Ramsey had not only been rescued from a watery grave, but was likely to recover altogether; and she impatiently inquired of her father what he proposed to do. “The business is awkward, very awkward,” said the Beggarman; “‘ but my mind is made up to a particular course, if so be you’ve pluck enough to help me.”’ “I will do anything, provided I see the utility of it,” answered the vile young woman. “ But, after all, what have we to dread from this Ramsey? He dares not peach against us. We can tell things of him that would send him to Tuck-up Fair, can’t we? Didn’t he do as much as admit that he and Martin had committed the numerous forgeries of which Sir Richard Stamford is accused? and then didn’t he pass off all the spurious coin? Really, father, I don’t see, when we come to look well at the matter, that there’s so much to fear.” “There’s everything to fear, I tell you,” said the Big Beggarman, savagely. ‘‘ Don’t I know what natur’ is? And Suppose that Ramsey shouldn’t survive this night’s business, but just recover his senses sufficient to peach, isn’t there a chance of his repenting on his death-bed of his own sins, and confessing everything to some humbug of a parson? Then _ Out would come all about the spurious coin, the carrying _ off of Sir Richard Stamford, and this precious evening’s 308 CORNICLAOO