The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHANDLER’S SHOP 41 in that room, he assuredly was not alone in the house pre- vious to his (the officer’s) arrival. ‘TI want to speak to you upon a very particular and im- portant matter,’ said Larry, in a low and confidential tone, — ‘‘a matter which, if you can serve me in it, will put a hundred guineas into your pocket.” Taggarty instantaneously thought within himself that Sampson wanted him to betray Daniel Coffin into his hands; and his mind was at once made up not to have anything to do with an affair that would inevitably bring all the Hangman’s confederates and accomplices, from every part of London, like a hornets’ nest, about his ears. He accordingly said, ‘“‘ Tf it’s any dirty work, Mr. Sampson, I sha’n’t do it.” ‘“ T do not think you will look upon it as dirty work at all,” responded the officer, still speaking in a low and guarded tone. ‘‘ But tell me frankly whether we can converse in this room without the chance of being overheard.”’ ‘Well, there’s a young ’oman of my acquaintance up- stairs, doing out the bedchamber,”’ answered Taggarty, — “ and if she listens, she may overhear us.” | ‘Then will you step around with me to the nearest public- house? ”’ asked Sampson. “The truth is, 1 am expecting a friend or two,” replied the chandler, ‘‘ and I can’t very well leave. But just say in a whisper what the business is about.” ‘‘ It is relative to a lad called Jack the Foundling,” rejoined the officer, looking Taggarty very hard in the face. “ And what about him?” asked the latter, eagerly. ‘“ That is just the question which I am going to put to you,” said Larry. ‘‘ Now, I want to ascertain all the particulars I can possibly glean concerning the infancy of that lad; and if you will assist me, there are a hundred guineas in my pocket at your service.”’ ‘A hundred guineas?” repeated Taggarty, his eyes brightening. ‘‘ I must sell a great many pen’norths of tea and slices of cheese to scrape that sum together. Well, sir, what is it you wish to know? ”’ he asked, in a very subdued voice. ‘“T am already aware,’’ responded Larry, ‘‘ that a great mystery envelops the birth of the lad. He was either found or stolen; and it was a boy called James Melmoth who took him, when a babe, to the den in Grub Street, ? OUMUG 0)(0)©) (CO)