The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 238: what you’re looking at

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224 COPE AB oe ON rm mn ee ee ee me - THE MYSTERIES OF TIL COURT. “No—I am quite ignorant who he is,” said Lady Dysart, making Coffin a rapid sign not to contra- dict the assertion thus boldly ventured. “ But I dare say he has found his way into the house on some love-adventure with one of the female-ser- vants,” she added, thus furnishing him with a ready excuse to account for his presence there. “FEgad, ma'am, youre quite right,” exclaimed the Hangman, with a grim smile. “It was just as you say—and the girl deluded me into this place where she very politely asked me to be seated—- and lo and behold! I was lumbered and limboed in a jiffey. But Vl be even with her yet, the hussey! Only, I hope you won’t make no noise about it.” * Rest assured on that head,” Ernestina hast- ened to reply. But on your rart, you will never betray what you have experienced or seen within these walls 2” “J dont want to be laughed at for a fool, ma'am,” responded Coffin; “and therefore I shall keep a still tongue in my head. But pray release me.” “In a moment—all in good time!” exclaimed the Prince, still with a smile upon his countenance as he surveyed the man who cut such a piteous figure with his looks made haggard by a night of restlessness and whose aspect was not improved by his matted hair and unshaven chin. “ Now, is it really possible,” continued his Royal Highness, “that any girl in the service of Lord Leveson took a fancy to so singular a gentleman as you are 2?” “She pretended to, at all events,” replied Coffin: “but don’t you see, it was only to amuse herself by enticing me into this trap.” * And right well must she have been amused, too,” rejoined the Prince, still with a bantering tone. “But do you know, my good fellow, that if any one asked me seriously and solemnly to guess who you are, I could not possibly fall back upon any other hypothesis than that you are Jaci Ketch.” “And by Satan !” exclaimed Coffin, with another grim smile, “ your Royal Highness wouldn’t be far short of the mark—and that’s plain enough!” “Heavens! don’t talk so horribly,” cried Ernes- tina, becoming very pale. “Well, ma’am,” continued Coffin, “the Prince wants to know who I am—and as I am very cer- tain he won’t betray me, I tell him candidly and openly that I am—or at least was—Jack Ketch, until that cursed affair down at Mrs. Owen’s——” “Ah! is this possible?” ejaculated the Prince, who at first thought the fellow was joking when he acknowledged himself to be the Public Execu- tioner: and the countenance of his Royal Highness now became suddenly stern and severe. “Let us liberate him and send him about his business,” said Ernestina, catching the Prince by the arm and gazing on him with a look of entreaty. “Yes—and the sooner he gets out of my sight, the better,” exclaimed George. ‘But, no!” he suddenly ejaculated, as a thought flashed to his mind. “This fellow may be of service to us,” he added, in a musing tone: then, drawing Ernes- tina to the farther end of the room, he saidin a low whisper, “ With this scoundrel’s co-operation, our plans relative to Dysart would be made secure and safe enough |” “I at once fathom your meaning,” responded the lady, likewise lowering her voice to a scarcely audible whisper: “but would you trust him?” “ And why not?” asked the Prince, “He would not dare betray us, because he must know full well that not a human being would believe him, and that he would be treated as a Bedlamite. Besides, gold purchases the secrecy even of such ruffians as this——_” “True! But he is no longer the agent of the law—he has ceased to occupy his loathsome office,” observed the lady. “For, if I be not mistaken, he is the wretch who shot Mrs. Owen’s footman—and therefore he himself has become amenable to the law.” “Ah! I did not think of that at the moment,” said the Prince. “ But at all events, let us ques- | tion the villain and ascertain what his position and prospects really are. One never knows what loop- holes such scoundrels have to creep out of. In any case there is no harm in questioning him: it will only be at the expense of remaining a few mi- nutes longer in his precious compary.” With this resolve the Prince turned again to- wards the Hangman, who had awaited in some de- gree of suspense the result of the whispered col- loquy between his Royal Highness and Ernestina. As for the lady herself, it was with evident reluc- tance that she again accosted the Hangman: nor did she much admire the prospect of falling even more deepiy into that ruffian’s power than she already was. * Now tell me,” said the Prince, leaning against the secret door of the dressing-room, and fixing his eyes searchingly upon the Hangman, “what prospect you have of ever getting out of the scrape into which your crimes have plunged you.” “ Tirst tell me,” exclaimed Coffin, “ what motive you have in asking.” “No unfriendly one,” replied the Prince. “You are well aware that it does not suit my purpose to hand you over to the grasp of justice: that calcu- lation you have already revolved in your mind— and therefore you need no assurances from my lips upon the point. But I have a particular reason for wishing to know whether you entertain any hopes of being shortly restored to the very plea- sant and agreeable office which you are compelled, it appears, temporarily 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, ‘‘ I may do you some good.” “Ah! that’s different,” said Coffin, his looks now brightening up. “ Well, my lord—or Royal Highness—I’ll explain to you exactly the predica- ment 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 go on. Isuppose 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 0 VOO'K = =—— ee ee a te + eel