The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER II MOTHER FRANKLIN Ir will be remembered that the Hangman and Bencull had resolved, after due consultation, to make away with the formidable Bow Street officer, Mr. Lawrence Sampson. Their project was to entice him, by some means or another, down to the dark crib in Jacob’s Island, where three or four of the gang would he in readiness to put the murderous scheme into execution; while the Hangman himself was to call at Larry’s house in Long Acre on some pretence and get possession of the police book. With a view to the effectual carrying out of this plan, Nell Gibson had been selected as the most fitting instrument of the plotters, and at the same time the Buttoner had been appointed as a spy upon her actions. It was necessary to remind the reader of these particulars; and we must add that, although the Hangman’s gang sub- sequently discovered certain proofs of what they believed to be Nell Gibson’s treachery toward them in respect to their dealings with Sir Douglas Huntingdon, they had agreed, after calm deliberation, to conceal their knowledge of the young woman’s additional perfidy in respect to the note which had been intercepted by the Buttoner. To that resolve they had come, as we described at the time, with a view to ascertain whether she were also betraying them with respect to the plot initiated in reference to Larry Sampson. It was now a week since the memorable night of the fire; and if, at about six o’clock in the evening, we peep into Mr. Lawrence Sampson’s comfortable parlour at his house in Long Acre, we shall behold him sitting by the fire reading a book and discussing a glass of wine. Presently the door 10 Gomicbooks (E(@)