The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. 391 LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON Lire. == 891 | ———————— ~~ a fine little fellow, about nine years ‘nine years of age, was| “You forget, Dick,” said Faddle, with » scowl, age, was sitting by her side. “Come, my little man,” he observed, “here is room for both of us. Don’t let me turn you away.” He held out his hand to draw the child near to the fire; but the woman, with a sort of convulsive energy, drew him away. He had been quietly listening te the gossip of the poor creatures around him, when a smart-looking stout-built fellow, coarsely but warmly clad, entered the cellar with the air of a man who felt himself at “Sure it’s the master,” whispered an Irishwoman to one of her companions. ‘‘ The mistress will be in @ good temper now.” “ And well she may be, with such a clean-limbed lad for her husband, Sure he is too good for the likes of her. They say she hanged her first man to make room for him. If I had been the boy I wouldn’t have had her, had her skin been stuffed with gold, Look how she is cosseting him.” The officious landlady no sooner saw the arrival of her better half, than she left her bar and began to assist him to remove his top coat and comforter, which, together with his hat, she removed into the little den at the back, generally known by the name of the mistress’s room, The fellow, who permitted his wife’s attentions with the air of an Adonis, ap- proached the fire, when suddenly his and the stran- ger’s eyes encountered, and they recognised each othe te aa fastens. |” “Deer? “Silence !” said the former. “ No names here.” ‘Lord bless me, sir,” said the landlord, unable to conceal his surprise, “is that you? Why I can scarcely believe my eyes! What a change!” “Tt is even so, Dick,” replied his old master; for the stranger was no other than our readers’ old ac- quaintance Faddle. “‘ Fortune has played me a scurvy trick ioe last we met; but Ishall soon be all right “T hope so, sir,” said the fellow, doubtingly ; ‘* it’s a long lane that has no turning.”’ ‘‘ And you—what are you doing?” Just keeping this bit of a place—I and my wife.” s‘ Wife!” repeated his former master, catching at the word; “‘ why how many have yon got ?” “ Hush ! for the love of peace, not aword! She is as jealous as a fury! It is not a month since I neatly lost my life for kissing a girl who had been lodging here upwards of a month—all in the way of «Of oe Dick,” said Faddie, who knew what his old servant’s friendship meant. ‘*And how does business answer?” “ Ob, pretty well—just a crust and a shelter—but it is hardly earned.”’ “Indeed! I am‘glad, then, I have met with you. I shall soon require a servant ;—you know my ways.” “‘T ought to do.” “¢ And shall have your old place ag “ And what,” demanded Dick, with a ca as he cast his eye over the habiliments of the speaker, “amItoede? Brush your clothes?” ‘¢ TInsolent !”’ “ Ditto,” repeated Dick, saucily. ‘ It’s fine feathers which make fine birds; and the devil would not pick yours from a dunghill, unless he wanted to make a carecrow. tn agence, “You forget, Dick,” said Faddle, with a scowl, ‘that I can hang you.” “ No you can’t,” (oe the fellow, with a look of defiance; * the forgery is burnt.” “There’s your mistake,” observed his old master. “‘T only pretended te destroy it. You were too useful and too deeply entrusted with my secrets to be suf- fered to run loose. The paper is stillin my posses- sion, and I can hang you within a month if I please,” The impudent look of poor Dick suddenly fell as he heard the fearful declaration of his old master’s over him. @ Hie knew the speaker too well to doubt that he was both able and willing, if provoked, to fulfil his threat, and his mannor suddenly became as humble and cringing as it had been bold and full of defiance. “Tt isno use, sir,” he said. “I know I am in your power; you can do with me as you please,” ‘¢ You have found your senses, then, at last ?” ‘¢ Of course, sir, sinee you have got the whip hand of me.. What can I do to serve you?” ‘‘ Tn the first place let me have something to eat, for I am nearly famished.” The obsequious Dick, much to his better half’s astonishment, set about preparing supper in the little room for his unweleome guest. To all her inquiries as to who the stranger was, he only replied by inform- ing her that he was a gentleman who in a few days would repay them nobly for their pains. “But are you sure,” she demanded, ‘that you are not deceived ?” “Was I ever deceived?” he replied, chucking her under the chin, to keep her in a good humour. “ Besides, I once lived with him, and know what lam about.” The meal, to the surprise of the lodgers, was pre- pared in the mistress’s room, and the stranger waited upon by the master himself. “Well, Dick,” he exclaimed, as soon as ke had satisfied his huager, “tell me what has oceurred since I left England. Have you ever heard or seen any thing of Wilmott?” “Nothing, sir; but his cousin, Miss Briarton, was married a fortaight ago.” “Indeed! To whom?” “ Walter Maynard.” “The clerk,”” “ Who is now,’ * continued the man, “ a partner, and soon will be the head of the firm. I heard one of the men say that the old gentleman intended te give up every thing.” * Lucky fellow.” At this moment one of the lodgers, not seeing either the mistress or master of the house at the bar, entered the room to request change for a sovereign. The cireumstance was so unusual that Dick could scarcely believe the evidence of his senses; and his companion, struck by the sound of the voice, turned round, and stood face to face with his former friend and dupe Wilmott. For awhile they stoed gazing upon each other like two men starting from a dream; neither could believe the meeting real. Faddle, with his usual self- possession, was the first to speak, “ Wilmott!” he exclaimed, * Faddle!” “ Well, this is a singular rencontre. What chance brings us together after so many years’ separation ?” “ No good one,” thought Dick, as he saw the two men, whom he suspected to be the murderers of the stranger, together. “There is say more than . 6SiG OA