The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

136 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“ Tf the baronet had meant to be nasty about the Shooter’s Hill affair, he would have done something at once and not let a dozen days elapse like this. The same may be said about the fire at his house; and moreover any lawyer would tell him that he could not prove it was me and my pals that did it. Then as for the groom, no one can say but what he was burnt alive, for who would think he had been knocked on the head first? Lastly, it’s out of all question for anybody to suspect that Nell Gibson has been made away with, except those who did it. So the baronet can’t be coming with the intention of doing me any harm, that’s positive.”’ Such were the thoughts which swept through the brain of Daniel Coffin, although at the same time he would much rather that Sir Douglas Huntingdon had not made his appearance in Fleet Lane at all, for when a person’s con- science is not very pure, a shadow will sometimes dis- turb it. ‘Well, Mr. Coffin,” said the baronet, pausing in front of the shop with a good-tempered look, ‘“‘ I have come to pay you a visit, you see.” ‘““So I see indeed,’”’ returned the Hangman, with a grim smile, “‘ but I hope there’s no ill feeling between us on account of what took place down yonder some little time back.” ‘“ Ah! you mean the affair at the Jolly Wagoner’s and then at Shooter’s Hill? ”’ said the baronet, who, be it understood, did not know who were the authors of the conflagration of his house. ‘ Well, I no doubt ought to owe you a little grudge for that proceeding on your part, but as I came out of it safe and sound, I will say nothing more on the subject. The truth is, I wish to speak to you on another little matter.” “ Walk in, sir,” exclaimed the Hangman, not only well pleased at finding that he was really free from danger, but also suspecting that the individual who had once stood the chance of being made a victim was now come as a patron or employer. ‘‘ Walk in, sir, and if you don’t like to talk in the shop, you can step into my parlour, where,” he added, with another grim smile, ‘“‘ you shall be sure of good treat- ment.”’ ‘Oh, we can talk very well in the shop,” returned the baronet, glancing around, “since there is no one here but ourselves, and I presume we are secure against eaves- droppers? ”’ Gomicbdooks (C(O)