The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

38 THE COURT OF LONDON you thought I was dead and gone? I’ve seen the news- papers, and find that the belief is I was drowned. Well, so much the better. But it’s a precious bad job, after all.” ‘Bad indeed,” observed Sal. ‘‘ I suppose you won’t be able to come home again in a hurry? ”’ ‘“ IT don’t see how the deuce I’m ever to come home again at all,’ replied the Hangman, his countenance assuming an expression of diabolical ferocity, as if he thought the whole world had turned against him. ‘‘ There’s only two chances for me, and they’re not likely to come about.” ‘What are they?” inquired the Melmoths, speaking, as it were, in the same breath. ‘Why, one is the death of Larry Sampson,” answered Coffin; ‘‘ because if he was out of the way, the other con- stables could be easily bought over to say they couldn’t identify me as the burglar. I know ’em all well enough to be aware of what a ten-pound note would do with each.” ‘And what is the other chance? ” inquired Taggarty. ‘“ Why, if there’s somebody to be hung and no one to hang him, some fine morning,” returned Coffin, “ a free pardon for any past offences would be offered to the individual that would take the place of the executioner; and then I might come forward and step easy enough into my old berth. Those are the two chances; but they’re far away off at present, and no mistake.”’ “Less probable things have come about,’ observed Taggarty. ‘“‘ Well, we shall see,’’ said Coffin. ‘‘ Where’s Jack?” he demanded, abruptly. ‘At home again,” answered Dick. ‘“‘ You don’t suspect him at all?” ‘“ Not a bit of it,” rejoined the Hangman. “ He wasn’t aware that such a thing was in contemplation at Richmond at all. But I can guess how it was. Me and the footman — poor fellow! — was foolish enough to discuss our plans one night last week in a tap-room at Richmond, where a country bumpkin was getting his supper. We thought he went to sleep after he’d gorged himself with bread and cheese; but he must have shammed, and so overheard what we said. It was infernally stupid on our part; it’s cost the poor devil of a footman his life, and made me a sort of exile and wanderer ») CORMICOOOKS (€(0)