The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 85: what you’re looking at

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ee ee eee 68 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ES par a ee ee ee two lawyers separated, and proceeded to different | upon the table. The sight of the gold at once made parts of the room to mingle amongst the gay and | the horrible countenance of the ruffian clear up— brilliant groups of Lady Saxondale’s guests. But | —that is to say, it cleared up as much as the murky we need not extend this chapter nor dwell at any | gloom of a thunder-cloud can be said to brighten greater length upon the details of the splendid | when the sun shines forth from another part of the entertainment; but will at once proceed to turn the | heaven upon it. reader’s attention to a place and a scene contrast- “ Here are your hundred pounds,” said Madge: ing marvellously with the sumptuous mansion and | “ and now be contented.” the glittering throng whereof we are now taking our| “ Well, the look of this preciois metal, as leave. romance-writers call it,” said Chiffin, “is enough to soften a fellow’s heart :’—and while he thus spoke —— : he began to finger the gold pieces, counting them over first of all to see that they were right, and then CHAPTER XVL weighing them in his hand. “ You have kept your promise, Madge,” he continued as he secured the money about his person; “and I have nothing more TRUE to her appointment with Chiffin the Cannibal, | to say—unless it is to offer to stand a bowl of punch Madge Somers crossed the threshold of Solomon | down stairs if you will come and partake of it.” Patch’s boozing-ken in Agar Town, just as the clock | But ere the woman had time to give the negative in the tap-room was striking nine, on the same | atswer which she. was about to return, the door evening on which Lady Saxondale’s entertainment | opened, and Lady Bess sauntered with graceful ease took place. into the room. She was appafelled exactly in the The Cannibal was drinking with a party of his | same manner as when we previously described her, friends when Madge made her appearance in the |—her fine person being admirably set off by the tap-room; but laying down his pipe and tossing off | close-fitting frock coat, the well made pantaloons, the remnants of his liquor, the Cannibal at once | and all the other accessories of her masculine garb. rose from his seat and followed her up into the | For a moment her magnificent large eyes, with se room above. This room was specially devoted to | bright a lustre shining in their black depths, were the private conferences of the persons frequenting | flung scrutinizingly upon Madge Somers and the Solomon Patch’s house. It was here that many a | Cannibal, as if to penetrate their proceedings at a dark and desperate deed was planned,—here that | single glance; and then with that off-hand air of the perpetrators thereof were wont to assemble | easy negligence and graceful listlessness whieh afterwards and divide the fruits of their iniquity,— | generally characterized her, the female highwayman here also that Mr. Patch himself transacted busi- | took a seat at the table. ness with his friends when stolen property was to| “I hope I am not intruding,” she said. “That be disposed of. It was @ wretched place, Solomon | old scoundrel Solomon told me you were up here Patch’s love of money and niggard disposition pre- | closeted together; and as I have got a little business venting him from laying out the few shillings that | to transact with him I thought there would be no might have rendered it somewhat decent. But | harm in joining you.” then, on the other hand, it answered the purpose! “Ah! I suppose it doesn’t suit your gentility,” very well: no one grumbled at its rude furniture— | growled Chiflin, “to stand lurking about down at its dirty floor and blackened walls: nor were the | the bar, or to go and sit amongst my pals in the persons who were accustomed to use the room, of | tap-room.” ; that delicate constitution likely to suffer by the| “Is it not strange, Chiffin,” cried Lady Bess, draughts from the broken windows or the places | laughing good-naturedly, and thus displaying the where the absent panes were indifferently stopped | two splendid rows of teeth that graced her rich up with old rags thrust through. A rude sort of | mouth, “that you always have something compli- LADY BESS. staircase led up to an attic above; and this attic | mentary to say tome? And yet I invanably treat was provided with a bed for the accommodation of | you with as much civility as possible.” any one of Mr. Patch’s friends whom circumstances “Perhaps, you think, more than I deserve,” re- might compel to seek a temporary retirement until | marked Chiffin, somewhat softened by Lady Bess’s some menacing storm was blown over. open-hearted frankness. It was into the conference-room above described | “Under circumstances it certainly is,” she re- that Madge Somers and Chiffin the Cannibal as- | sponded: “for you scarcely ever say a civil word cended, the former having obtained a candle from | to me.” the old landlady. “T don’t know how it is, but I can’t say that I “Well,” said Chiffin as he took a seat upon arude | dislike you,” resumed Chiffin; “and yet I don’t al- stool, “I suppose you have brought me my blunt | together feel myself at home in your presence. You according to promise? I have been thinking a/| are too fine and grand for me. Besides, you and good deal over that adventure of last night——” I never act together.” “Then I beg you will not think any more of it,” “Our avocations are so different,” exclaimed interrupted Madge peremptorily. “An agreement | Lady Bess, with another merry laugh. “ But what is an agreement: the business of last night has | if I were going to propose something of a grand ceased to be your affair altogether, and is now mine; | and startling mature, in which you can assist? so I will thank you not to interfere in my concerns, | Now, Madge, you see the Cannibal’s eyes glisten; if you wish us to continue good friends.” and he is actually excited with the hint I have The Cannibal was about to give some surly reply, | thrown out.” when Madge, thrusting her hand into her pocket,| “It’s because in his heart he feels honoured by drew forth a quantity of sovereigns which she placed this confidence you are going to show him,” ob- COMICIOOKS EO