The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

and handing her a glass of wine. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Gibson, fixing a searching glance upon Sampson 80 as to penetrate into the depths of his soul and thus assure herself that he really suspected nothing. “Now, let us understand the whole thing tho- roughly, so that there may be no mistake,” he observed, motioning Nell Gibson to take a seat * According to what you have previously told me, the Hangman’s gang contemplate some desperate and astounding deed of villany, the nature of which is however unknown to you. They have already had two or three consultations, from which you have been ex- eluded; and now to-night the last consultation is to be held, to settle the whole plan and arrange all the proceedings. Is not this it?” “That is exactly how the matter stands, Mr, Sampson,” replied Nell Gibson. “Well, then,” resumed the Officer “you must now tell me all over again exactly what you pro- pose; because having a great many different things to think of, 1 may not perhaps exactly remember all you have said to me at our previous | interviews.” | words,” said Nell Gibson. “T can explain myself over again in a very few You must understand that at the back of the dark crib there is a sort of gallery, overlooking the ditech-——” “Yes—and overhanging it also,” interrupted Sampson. “After you came to me on the first occasion, I went down to the Folly Bridges and took a survey of the place. Ofcourse L had often been there before; but after what you told me I _ thought it best to get an accurate idea of the locality.. And now please to continue your ex- planations.” ‘Since you have been down to the place to look. at it so particularly,” resumed Nell, “you may have noticed that if you get on the wooden bridge you can easily climb along to the gallery at the back of the dark crib; and there you can lie con- cealed, listening at the -window to all that takes place inside the back room.” “Well, the plan is feasible enough,” observed. Sampson, steadily and composedly meeting the keen and penetrating look which Nell Gibson fixed upon him from beneath her eyelids; and thus while she fancied that he did not perceive how in- tently though furtively she was watching him, he not only saw that he was thus scrutinized, but also encountered the scrutiny without exciting a suspi- cion. “And how many do you think will be there to-night?” he inquired. * Ah! there will be several of them,” answered Well Gibson: “for the best part of the gang are in this business; and that’s the reason why I know it must be something of the utmost import- ance.” “* And have you failed to wheedle the secret out of the Buttoner ? for he is your fancy man, I be- lieve,” said Larry Sampson. “The Buttoner is as close as the door of New- gate and as down as the knocker itself,” replied Nell. “ When he was drunk I have tried to pump him; but it was all no go. Besides which, the Buttoner never will trust a woman; and so if he did tell me anything, it couldn’t be relied on as true—it would only be some invention of his to put me on a wrong scent. But I know that | whatever the business now in hand may be, | Se + ee ee Gee ee eee eee a a ee ee re me O47 there’s murder in it—and also the hope of an im- mense booty ——” “And how do you know this?” inquired Samp- gon. “Because the Buttoner cleaned up his pistols this morning, and sharpened the blade of a hide. ous clasp-knife that he’s got. He didn’t think I paid particular attention to what he was doing: but I did though. Moreover, I dropped in, quite in a leisurely way, at the dark crib this afternoon; and I saw Bencull busy examining his pistols also. The Mushroom Faker arrived at the dark crib last night, aud brought his pistols with him—and I heard him say in an under-tone to Bencull some. thing about its being very probable that they should soon have more money than they would possibly know what to do with.” ’ “But could not you by some means or another secrete yourself in the gallery behind the dark crib and hear what is going on to-night?” asked Sampson, raising a sort of objection merely to prevent Nell Gibson from thinking that he fell too readily into the snare. “If I could, you may depend upon it I would,” she answered: “but it’s impossible. I must get back now as quick as I can to Mother Young's ; and I shan’t be able to stir out again all the even- ing. No, Mr. Sampson—this is a thing that you musf take in hand yourself: and remember that when I first came to you, our solemn understand- ing was that whatever took place between us was not to be communicated to a third person. But I must be off now,” she exclaimed, rising from her Seat as she heard a clock in another room striking eight. “But I have not yet given you any portion of the reward that you stipulated for,” observed Sampson. “JT will come for it when the business is over,” said Nell Gibson. ‘“ Besides, the best and most welcome reward that I can have, is to revenge my- self for the ill-treatment of the Buttoner—the in- sulting taunts of the Hangman, because I refused to submit to his wishes—and the coarse brutality of that detestable Bencull. In fact, Mr. Sampson, as I have told you before, I have a thousand wrongs to avenge against those villains; and now is the time.” “Yes—there shall be ample revenge for you, Miss Gibson,” observed Larry. ‘“ Whatever these fellows plot and plan to-night, shall send them all to the scaffold. But what time will they be assem- bled in their ruffian conclave ?” * At about eleven o'clock,” returned Nell. “If you secrete yourself in the,gallery at that hour, it will be ample time.” “ And you are certain that there is no danger of any of the fellows going out into that gallery?” “ Not a bit of it,” responded Nell Gibson: “ you will not incur the slightest peril.” The young woman then took her departure : and when she was gone, Larry Sampson thought with- in himself, “The plot is a clumsy one; and even without Mother Franklin’s warning, I should not have fallen very readily into the snare. But that Nell Gibson is a clever and a cunning girl, and performs her part well. However, she and her comrades will all be astonished at the lesson I shall read them to-night.” The Bow Street Officer then resumed the perusal rn ee ee ee ee eS eer ee eC ee CloO@OkKS Conn (CO)