The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

a a — TT — ——__ ee — ——_— —__ 230 between Sedler and himself which he well knew might send him to the gallows. He remained for some mo- ments plunged in reflection: a faint smile at last illu- minated his sallow countenance. “ You could promise him, Sir Walter,” he observed. “Of what use,” demanded the minister, “ would that be if I lacked the power te keep my word?” “ Leave that to me,” said the lawyer, with a chuckle, “And nuw I think of it, I should prefer hanging the fellow; it would be pleasanter—— much pleasanter, Only suffer yourself to be guided by my advice, and we shall outwit the rascal yet.” “You have deceived me once,” said the baronet; “how can I trust you?” “ My reputation depends upon the success of my plan.” “ Your reputation |!—pshaw !” “ Well, then, my life,” added the lawyer. “Your life,’ repeated the minister; “that is a pledge I think I may trust to.’ The next day the new Secretary of State for the Home Department, attended by the sheriffs and gover- nor of Newgate, inspected the prison. Sedler, who had been informed of the intended visit by Prim, kept his cell under the plea of indisposition. The arrival of the great man produced quite a sensation. The chaplain was all smiles and information in hopes of a living; the sheriffs, as they listened to his commen- THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. * Revolutionary,” echoed the sheriffs. “And who are these precious friends of yours?” demanded Sir Walter. The prisoner laid his forefinger to his nose, as much as to say, “ Don’t you wish you may get it?” “What does he mean?” exclaimed the great map, turning to the chaplain. “Some sinful hieroglyphic or another ” replied the clergyman, with difficulty repressing a ‘smile at the question, which it would have been unbecoming of his cloth to have understood. The sheriffs, of course, were equally puzzled. The governor at last condescended to explain; but even he had his reserved points of gentility, ok only guessed at the prisoner’s meaning. “Rum guflins!” muttered the gipsy to himself; “IT can make nothing of them.” “TI think the observation of the fellow, at the least, suspicious,’’ “ Very!” echoed the attendants. “My good fellow,” resumed the baronet, in his blandest voice, “if you have any information con- cerning the welfare of the state, or the safety of its unworthy servants, you had better reveal it in- stantly.’’ “And what should I get by that?” demanded the prisoner. “The approbation of your conscience,” replied the dations, dreamt of knighthood; and the governor | chaplain. already saw his eldest son appointed toa clerkship in the Treasury on Sir Walter merely observing that he was a fine boy. **Have we seen all the prisoners?” demanded the baronet of the smirking officials. “ All,” said | the governor, “except one—a rascally highwayman. “ And as the only ee eae ot seen ?” * The only one.” ** Show me to his cell; my tour of inspection must be complete.” Sedler, who had been well instructed by Prim, was fully prepared to receive his visitor. The attendance of the sheriffs and governor sufficiently proved his importance; but he possessed a better guarantee in his personal knowledge of Sir Walter, whom he had frequently watched from his mansion in order to make himself acquainted with his person; for the gipsy was @ man of tion, “So,” he murmured to himself, “the devil’s shark has not deceived me.” For a few moments the great villain and the poor one remained gazing on each other ; there was a species of fascination in their look. The minister was the first to speak ; “ He seems a hardened knave.”’ “There are greater knaves than I am in the world, Sir Walter Mowbray,” coolly observed the prisoner. “ You know me!” exclaimed the baronet with well- assumed surprise. “] should think I does.” “ And what do you know of me?” “ Oh, nujin, nufin, only that some friends of mine were extremely anxious to have the pleasure of meet- ing you and one or two of your friends in your way to the parliament-house, where your gentry coves makes laws to catch the little flies, and let the big "uns break through.” “Insolent!” exclaimed the governor. “ Benighted ignorance of our blessed constitution,” added the chaplain, serve you with the government; that is,” he “ if your information were really useful; not other- wise.” “D5. godt’ peiter ts: thie ladianp ebeease eae gipsy, with a sneer, “merely for the approbation of your’s? No, no; youand I, Holy Joe, know a trick worth two of that.” “ Reprobate!” muttered the ecclesiastic. “ ant bate!” “Such a disclosure,” said the minister, “ “No time like the present,” exclaimed the ruffian ; “so that if you will only send those eavesdroppers away——” Sheriffs, chaplain, and governor alike protested against the absurdity of such a request. Was it likely that Sir Walter Mowbray, his majesty’s sécre- tary of state for the Home Department, would trust himself alone with a felon? Ridiculous! not to be thought of! “So you will not speak out, unless to me alone?” he said. “I’m blessed if I do!” “Then,” said the visitor, “I shall remain, The service of the state is paramount to every other con- sideration. Oblige me, gentlemen, Asis remaining oute side the door of the cell,” “Oh! Sir Walter! consider——” “T am not in the habit of changing mers tions,” said the baronet, coolly; “the ruffian is heavily ironed ; there can be little personal risk ; you can remain at the door,” “ And don’t listen,” added the prisoner, “ ’specially | the parson.” | Finding the great man patriotically resolved to the risk of remaining alone with Sedler, the rest the visitors withdrew. The gipsy had acted his with his usual cunning. At the time of his imprison ment the public mind was continually agitated b rumours of conspiracies and plots against both sovereign and his ministers. The lawyer Had well calculated the probabilities before he put him up to it. Gomichbooks.comn