The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

—_— ——— EN MN I — -—~ oN ea tli Sm ome 1196. a a a a me % ee —_—s—- — _ the man, willing to say something. “Pah!” replied the lawyer; “ my respectability is undoubted, I could langh at him.” “Of course you could, sir—in your sleeve.” This was a home thrust; there was no parrying it- Prim saw at once that his appropriation of the docu- ment had been detected by the sharp-eyed clerk, who had long been dissatisfied at the smallness of the sop which his master threw from time to time, as if to a hungry dog, to quiet him. He felt that the hout was come when he must act with more liberality and cau- tion. Opening his pocket-book, he took out a note for fifty pounds, and desired James to procure change for it, and pay the laundress her week’s wages out of it. The sum amounted to eight shillings, “Certainly, sir; and bring you the change ?” “No, James. AsI have given you a little extra trouble lately, you may keep that yourself.” James’s face brightened, Forty-nine pounds twelve shillings was a larger sum than he had ever yet pos- sessed at one time; it was a step to independence, His doubts vanished in an instant; and he would have sworn, ia the first blush of his gratitude, to his master’s honesty, his own conscientiousness, or any other monstrous lie that required a steady nerve or cool impudence. “ James,” said the lywyer, as he was going out of the office, “ I don’t think you heard my question.” “ What was it, sir?” “Whether you could not swear that there was no cheque in the packet Shark brought?” “ Of course I can, sir. How stupid I must have been not to have heard you! but I am a little deaf at times.” “A little! but away with you.” A few minutes later and Mr. Prim sallied forth from his legal den and directed his steps towards Fetter Lane, in which locality were several receiving-honses —places kept open ali night—with crucibles ready, and a glowing fire, to melt plate, watch-cases, or any other species of valuable plunder which the proprie- tors—generally Jews—might purchase of the sons of blood and rapine. The most noted of these was the one which called Mr. Moses master. It was situated at the bottom of a long, dark, narrow passage, like the den of a field-spider, and communicated at the back and sides with several adjacent streets, so that if a visitor were watched to the principal entrance, it would be very difficult to speculate in what street he might make his reappearance. Long asthe house had been watched, and often as it bad been inspected by the police, they had never yet succeeded in obtaining possession of any of the stolen property which was nightly brought there in a recognisable form. It was conveyed through an aperture in the wall to a strongly barred’ chamber, and quickly lost all identity in the melting pot. Moses, like other respectable tradesmen, had his regular customers and took a peculiar method of keeping them. The moment a fellow entered into commercial transactions with him he retained one proof at least that would hang him. It seldom occurred, therefore, that an account opened under such cireomstances was closed unless by the hang- man. Prim was perfectly aware of this prudent arrangement on the part of the dealer, whose son, as we before observed, was waiting his trial for forgery n Newgate. ** Bless ma soul, Mr. Prim!”’ exclaimed the aston- shed Jew, as the lawyer entered his dismal den, m8 ee en eee ew eee © + eer ee oe re ee we es oe 6 me THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. oe cee a a ee eg i Perhaps he may swear you took it, sir,” observed | which was cenerally deserted during the day; “ what _prings you here—avy ting in my vay?” “Hem! why not exactly in your way, although it concerns you deeply,” “Very vell—vat is it?” ** You have a son?” “Of course I’ve a son,” replied the old man, turn- ing deadly pale; for, as we said before, he loved bim —“a fool, whe, instead of sticking, as I do, to a re~ spectable business, vanted to be a gentleman—pretty gentleman in Newgate—cost me a deal of monies, Mr. Prim, a deal—sct bim up twice, vonce in the clothes line, and then in my own—vould not do—no head for business; but vat,” he added, peering cu- riously into the lawyer’s face, “ have you to say about Ruben ?” “Nothing, but that the case is strong against him.” “ Know it!” exclaimed the Jew in despair, “ Fool | —took the cneque himself! Pretty way of doing things! he ought to have known better, seeing how I prought him up.” . “ Doubtless,” observed Prim, “But vat do you vant vith me?” demanded Mozes- “You are aware that I am solicitor for the proses cution ?” : | “Vell?” ‘That all the papers are in my possession ?” “Vell?” “ And seeing that there is no chance of his escape,” continued the visitor —“that he must be convicted —and knowing you to be a respectable man, from having successfully defended you three times at the Old Bailey, I thought, as I was passing, I would just — come in and condole with you—that’s all.” ‘Tank you,’ sighed Moses, “tank you. Vil you : vork in? I have some find schedam from Holland, and gold vasser; the king don’t drink better. Vork in—we can talk better there.” They understood each other, but were afraid to show they did so. They had been seated some little time in Mr Moses’s comfortably furnishid back parlour, with the liquor before them, before either of them spoke; they were internally calculating their game, Prim was the first to break silence, “Yours must be a peculiar business, Mr, Moses,” he observed. “Tt is very peculiar,” replied his host. “Tam told,” continued his visitor, “that you keep some rather: curious memorials of all the men with whom you transact business.” “ Wery,’’ said the dealer significantly, “ wery curi- ous memorials; it’s a part of my system.” “Are you acquainted with one George Sedler 2” “Vat!” exclaimed the Jew, warming into enthu- siasm, “the prince of cracksmen, the knowing cove, the feller vot has more dodges than aliases to his name ?—I should tink so,” “ Have you any memorial of him?” Moses’ enthusiasm suddenly changed, ‘and his countenance became serious. After a few moments’ consideration, during which it was curious to watch the ibe: of his wrinkled brow, he answered : “ Yo 9 ‘“‘Good morning, Mr. Moses,” said Prim, rising, and moving towards the door; “I am sorry for Ruber.” “Stay, stay,” faltered the old man; “give me a moment more to tink.” The visitor quietly reseated himself, | Gomilcbooks co *