The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

| Vat do you vant vid it?” ” demanded | the J W, __ | suddenly; “ vat sort of a memorial do you expect?” | “One of your usual ones,” insinuated the lawyer, blandly. “Do you vish to hang him?” “No; only to muzzle him.” * And vat,” sighed the dealer, the cold perspiration ‘pouring from his forehead, for he felt the danger of provoking the desperate ruffian—‘‘ vat will you give me for it?” “A cheque to any amount,” said Prim. * Vould eight hundred be too much?” demanded Moses. This was the sum his son had forged for. Not at all; 1 think it only reasonable.” | And drawn on Discount’s ?” This was the name _ of the banker forged spon. ‘* Assuredly.” “Then,” said the Jew. “you shall have it. Vil pring it to yon myself. George little tinks I’ve got it. You ean hang him,” he whispered; ‘‘you’d better hang him, he’!l be out of the way den, and I shall _ sleep quistly; he’d cut my troat ven he finds it out- _ Do hang him!” “ Most likely I shall,” observed the lawyer; “ but not yet.” “Go along home,” said the Jew; “I'll be vith you _inanhour. Holy Father Abraham!” he added, in an accent of terror; “if George should find me out—if he only should!” “ We shall be enabled to muzzle him,” replied Prim, “rely upen it. Good morning.” The two worthies separated—the legal rascal to his chambers in the Temple, and honest Mr. Moses to his museum, 60 rich in relics of the cut-throats and high- waymen of the day. At six in the evening they met again. The Jew _had brought the memorial with him. First he pro- ‘duced an old paper, which gave an account of a mur- der committed in Essex on the Ist of May, some fifteen years since, and offering a reward of fifty pounds for the apprebension of the murderer, who had, ‘amongst other articles, taken from the body of his ‘victim a peculiarly-shaped watch, a repeater, set in a he geen and silver case—maker’s name, Le Pine, chester; No. 3827. Prim carefully read over all the particulars, and looked at the date of the paper. Folding it carefully up, he nodded to his visitor, as —- as to say, “ That will do.” Mr. Moses next, with a trembling hand, produced watch exactly similar to the one described, from his pocket, and beld it up to the light. ** Is it a repeater?” demanded the lawyer. _ Moees pushed the spring and it struck the half - Can I see the number?” _ His visitor carefully took it out of bis case, which a in bis pocket, opened the works, and showed 6 fatal figures, 3827. A smile quivered on the thin os Of the lawyer—he was satisfied. _ And you bought this of Sedler?” - * ] did.” “ When?” _ * On the second of May, fifteen years since.” _ “Sign me a memorandum to that effect,” said Prim, “aud there is the cheque.” _ He held up the morsel of paper on which the life f the old man’s son depended, sufficiently near for a to read, but ont of his reach. It was no seruple of generosity or hopour which : the Israelite hesitate, but sheer terror. Gipsy reorge was known to be both resolute and revenge: —— — — -— as LIGHTS ANv SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE, oe tee ee eee fal ; ; his friend Moses would have cut nis throat without the least remorse, but he trembled at the idea of exciting his resentment. In his extremity he proffered gold, that dross which through life had been the idol of his avaricious heart, for which he had damned himself—but all in vain; Prim did not want his money. Paternal love at last prevailed — the memorandum was signed, and the watch delivered, The cheque, accerding to promise, was instantly given up, and instantly destroyed. “ T feel,” sighed the old man, “ that I have signed my death-warrant. George vill never forgive me- Vish to God, Mr. Prim, you’d hang him, I’il be half the expense—all,” he added; “only hang him— hang him!” The speaker’s terrors were not ill founded: he had escaped the consequences of a thousand crimes to perish by the only virtuous feeling he ever knew— paternal love. Selder was true to his appointment in the Temple; he entered the outer office with his usual air of saucy indifference, beneath which, however, he eontrived to keep an observant eye on all he saw. Two men muffled in great coats, who were drinking porter and smoking near the fire with James, only drew from him a sneer. * Does the old fool imagine I am going to kill the goose,” he murmured, “ which is to lay me golden eggs?—not quite so green as that.” Yet he was, with all his knowledge of the world, greener than he was aware of; for these two men were no other than Bow Street cfficers, whose services had been conditionally required. ** Well, old ’un!” he exclaimed, seating himself, as on his first visit,on the table, “have you made up your mind ?”’ “ Perfectly,” said the lawyer. “ Let’s hear it.” “To give you another hundred guineas for those papers, if you choose to deliver them up.” * Hundred!” repeated Gipsy George, in a tone of contempt; “‘ why they are worth a thousand!” , * Not a penny more.”’ “1’m off then. Perhaps Sir Walter Mowbray will be more reasonable. I’m off to him.” “You must be quick then,” observed Prim, taking the repeater from his fob,and striking it, the hour was hal f-past six, “ or he will be gone to the house.” There was nothing very extraordinary in the action of the lawyer; perhaps it was the tone in which he spoke; but it attracted the attention of his visitor, who had nearly reached thedoor. He turned suddenly round, and his eye fell upon the watch. In an instan‘* his impudence left him, and he turned deadly pale. The wurderer recognised it. “Why don’t you go?” asked Prim, with a fiend- like smile; “are you afraid that the two men in the outer office should ask any unpleasant questions?” Sedler seated himself. This time he took a chair. “Don’t let me detain you,” continued the man of law, still holding the watch in his hand. “Damnation!” muttered the gipsy; second time completely foiled.” “Do you admire my watch, that you eye it so “for the closely ?” demanded Prim; “itis rather a remarkable | one.” “Yes, Will you sell it?” eagerly exclaimed his visitor. “No, George, no; it’s a very valuable one to me. I have had it a long time. I might have had fifty pounds for it any time thece fifteen ead 197 Oimilecbdoo (C(O) m