The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 69 served Madge, who keenly and skilfully read the; “Stop, stop, my lady!” excsaimed old Solomon , real feeling which had inspired the Cannibal at the evidently not wishing to let a good bargain slip out moment. | of his hands. “I—I—don’t mind saying forty— “Honour be hanged!” said Chiffin surlily: then and that’s the very outside.” immediately adopting a more conciliatory tone,he “Give me over the things, you old scoundrs,” hastened to observe, “ But come, Lady Bess, if said Lady Bess, more good-naturedly than angrily. there’s anything you can really put in my way, I “Iam resolved not to part with them under the shan’t refuse to accept it; and it might make us fifty.” better friends.” | Solomon Patch continued turning the watch and “Very good: I will explain myself presently,’ chain over and over in his hand: then he examined replied the female highwayman: for at thismoment the rings one after the other: then he recurred ¢= old Solomon Patch entered the room. the watch—opening it, examining the works, and He was an ill-looking man—shabbily dressed, of in short scrutinizing it most minutely in every sordid appearance, and with a sneaking slyness in point. At length, after several fruitless attempts to the expression of his countenance. The loveof gain beat down Lady Bess in her price, he gave her the was as clearly traced in every line of those angular fifty pounds she demanded and walked off with the features and that wrinkled face as if his character spoil. had been written thereon; and it required no great, “Now,” said Chiffin, as soon as Solomon Patch depth of observation to perceive that there was | had quitted the room, “what about this little scarcely any villany from which Solomon Patch business that you have been talking of? Some- would shrink so long as he beheld the certainty of a thing that you and I can do together, you know, commensurate reward. and which is to make us better friends than we have “Am I intruding?” he asked, as he slowly and yet been ?”’ hesitatingly entered this room—this deferential “Oh! you must not think,” exclaimed Lady question not being addressed to either Chiffin or Bess, somewhat haughtily, “that I want to curry Madge, but to the amazonian beauty. favour with you, Chiffin. But if I should be able “Intruding—no!” she exclaimed. “All I want to let you into a good thing,” she added with her you to do is to take these trinkets which I picked wonted frankness of humour, “perhaps you will up on the road last night, and give me what accord- in future adopt a more civil tone towards me ?” ing to your ideas you think they are wcrth.” Thus | « Well, I don’t know but what I should give you speaking, Lady Bess, with an indifferent and care- my vote if the whole lot of us that frequent Sol less air, took from her pocket a watch and chain | Patch’s were to elect acaptain. So you see I hav’n’t and three or four finger-rings. “I might have. _Teally any particular dislike to you, Lady Bess :”— added some beautiful diamond ‘studs to this little | and as Chiffin thus spoke he endeavoured to look aol parcel of jewellery if I had chosen,’ she observed — pleasant as possible. with a smile upon the fulness of her ripe and| “There!” said Madge, addressing herself to the luscious lips: “but I let the poor frightened fellow female highwayman: “I am sure after that you keep them.” | won't refuse to throw a good thing in Chiflin’s While she was thus speaking, the watch and way.” rings which she had laid upon the table had sud-| “ N ot I!” exclaimed Lady Bess. ‘ And now then denly become the objects of an earnest and intense to the point. Somewhere near Edmonton there gaze on the part of Madge Somers, who at once lives a lawyer named Marlow. He is very rich— recognized them as having belonged to her guest thinks a great deal of himself—and bedecks his of the preceding night—young Lord Saxondale. person with very valuable jewellery. He has got a Chiffin the Cannibal was also contemplating the diamond ring on his finger that was presented to trinkets—not because he knew them, for he did not him by some lady to whose son he 1s guardian; and —but because it was in the man’s nature to feel an _ this ring is said to be worth two hundred guineas interest in anything that was the produce of plunder at least. Then his watch is set round with bril- or other illicit proceedings. Lady Bess was her- liants—he has a splendid diamond pin in his shirt- self looking carelessly at the same objects at the frill—and in his pocket-book he always carries a . moment; and therefore she did not perceive the good rourd sum in bank-notes. Now, all these par- attention with which Madge Somers was fixing her . ticulars I have ascertained direct from his coach- eyes on them. man: no matter how. Well, this Mr. Marlow has Solomon Patch took them off the table, and bent gone to a party to-night ; and I have positive infor- down towards the light in order to examine them as mation that he has got all his splendid jewellery closely as possible with a view to ascertain their about him—because it is to a first-rate house at the value: then after a long and careful scrutiny, he West End that he has gone—indeed to the very said in a stammering, hesitating manner, “ Well, I lady’s to whose son he is guardian. In a word, don’t know—lI always like to deal with your lady- between twelve and one o’clock this night it is my ship—you are so good and generous: but I really intention to ease him of those splendid jewels as couldn’t say more than thirty pounds—and that well as his purse and pocket-book, on the road to would be quite a stretch, to oblige you.” Edmonton.” “Oh! never mind,” said Lady Bess carelessly: “And you want me to help you, I suppose?” “T do not intend to take less than fifty—and as I asked the Cannibal, with a grim smile of satisfaction am in no particular want of money at this moment, at the prospect thus held forth. Iwill keep the trinkets till I am. Or perhapsI “VPrecisely so,” returned Lady Bess. “ But all may take a gallop down to Gravesend one of these the assistance you need render will be merely a fine mornimgs and see what your brother Israel will pretence, just for the sake of keeping up ap- offer.” pearances.” CONnNICLOOKS.ECO