The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

122 THE COURT OF LONDON in the power of such a diabolical rufhan. ‘‘ What is it you require of me? What do you want? ”’ ‘“ Well,’’ returned the Hangman, unable to resist the opportunity for another jest, ‘‘ I might in reason ask your Royal Highness to create me a duke or a marquis, for there’s many a man quite as bad as I am raised to the peerage for doing the dirty work of royalty. But my tastes don’t exactly go that way. I like money better than titles.”’ ‘Ah! then you want money?” said the prince, eagerly catching at the means of getting rid of this dreadful visitor. “Well, I should have thought you might long ago have guessed this much. The fact is,’’ continued Coffin, ‘‘ I am going to scrape together as much money as I possibly can get, for the purpose of emigrating to America.”’ “Oh, then I shall cheerfully assist you,’ exclaimed the prince, the sudden relief which this announcement gave him producing an expression of joy upon his features. ‘‘ How much do you require? ”’ ‘“ Well, I don’t think your Royal Highness could expect me to do with less than five hundred guineas.”’ “ You shall have that amount,’ said the prince, “ but I cannot give it you now. Ina few days you may rely upon receiving it. But how is it to be conveyed to you? I cannot send my valet to your residence any more; it com- promises me too much in his eyes. Nor can I allow you to come hither again; the risk of your being observed is too ereat.”’ “Well, if your Royal Highness will only tell me the when, the where, and the how,” said the Hangman, “‘ I will be punctual.” ‘“T have it! ’’ exclaimed the prince. ‘ An idea has struck me. Lady Ernestina Dysart is so deeply mixed up in this business that she must help me in it.” | “Ah! to be sure,” observed Coffin. ‘‘ Your Royal High- ness can send her to meet me somewhere and hand me over the money.” “This day week, at eleven o’clock at night, and on Westminster Bridge,’ said the prince regent. ‘“ Be that the appointment.”’ “Well and good,” rejoined the Hangman. “ But to make it more definite, suppose we say that Lady Ernestina, or whoever you may send, will find me seated in the recess CoOnnicloooks (E(@)