The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRISONER IN THE CHAIR 149 agreeable office which you are compelled, it appears, tem- porarily to vacate.”’ ‘Does your Royal Highness mean the post of Jack ‘Ketch? ” inquired Coffin, more and more amazed at the turn the conversation was taking. “To be sure I do!” exclaimed the prince. ‘Come, speak out, man; you know I can’t — or, rather, won’t — do you any harm, whereas,” he added, more deliberately, “‘T may do you some good.”’ “Ah! that’s different,’’ said Coffin, his looks now bright- ening up. ‘“ Well, my lord,—or Royal Highness, — I’ll explain to you exactly the predicament I stand in. You see I’m now playing at hide-and-seek, — afraid to go near my own house — ”’ ‘‘And therefore you take up your quarters in other people’s,’’ added the prince, drily. ‘ But goon. I suppose you are afraid of being arrested? ” *“‘ Just so,’”’ observed the Hangman; “ and there is but two chances of my ever being comfortable again. One is the death of my sworn enemy, Larry Sampson — ” ‘That is the famous Bow Street officer, eh?’’ said the prince. ‘“ Lor’, how your Royal Highness does know everything! ” exclaimed Coffin. ‘‘ One would really think you’d been a gonnofi or cracksman yourself in your day, and perhaps you would, too, if you hadn’t been born a prince.” ‘Well, go on,” said his Royal Highness, who could not help smiling at the conceit. ‘‘ You have told me one of your chances of getting what you call comfortable again; now tell me the other.” | ‘It is just this,’ rejoined Daniel Coffin, “ that if so be there’s a man to hang some fine Monday morning, and no one to hang him, the sheriff will make proclamation of free pardon to any enterprising individual, no matter what his crimes may have been, who shall step for’ard and offer himself for the dooty.” “Ah!” ejaculated the prince, with a rapid glance of intelligence at Ernestina. ‘‘ Then you really do expect that, sooner or later, you may resume your favourite post? ”’ ‘Tf it wasn’t an unpleasant subject, prince,” said the hangman, looking toward the lady in a meaning manner, GOMmiGcooo <S (EO)