The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

24 THE COURT OF LONDON “Then, by goles!’ shouted Bencull, starting from his seat, “‘ there’s no doubt as to who — ” “No doubt at all!” exclaimed the Buttoner, dashing his clenched fist violently against the table. ‘‘ Patience, patience,’ said Larry Sampson, coolly. ‘I tell you that it 1s vain and useless for you to conjecture how I obtained my information. Every crime committed in London is known to me, and the authors of it are likewise known; but it doesn’t always suit my purposes to bring them at once to justice.”’ Then fixing his eyes upon Bencull and the Buttoner, he said, ‘‘ You two men and Daniel Coffin were the authors of that fire at Sir Douglas Huntingdon’s. You forced an entrance into the stable with the intention of breaking into the dwelling-house; but the light fell from your lantern, and the place was soon in a blaze. Is this true, or is it not? Fools!’ ejaculated Larry Sampson, contemptuously, “‘ if such a mysterious circumstance as that is known to me in all its details, how do you think that this miserable clumsy murder-plot of yours could iii my knowledge? ”’ Bencull and the Buttoner now exchanged looks of gloomy alarm, for they felt persuaded that they were about to be apprehended on account of the burglary and fire at the baronet’s; while the Durrynacker and the Mushroom Faker likewise fancied that such was to be their two comrades’ fate. Indeed all four villains made sure that the dark crib was surrounded by Sampson’s runners, and for this reason they did not offer to lay a finger upon the formidable func- tionary himself. ‘“‘ Although such a pack of hangdog scoundrels as you,” resumed Larry, ‘‘ deserve no mercy at my hands, yet I do not mind putting you at your ease in one respect; and that. is,” he continued, addressing himself particularly to Bencull and the Buttoner, ‘‘ I do not mean to take you two up, nor yet your friend the Hangman, for that business at Sir Douglas Huntingdon’s. Not that I am overdesirous to show you any leniency, but because I cannot make use of the evidence I have obtained to bring the deed home to you. So now,” he added, ‘‘ let me give you a word of warning, which is, that if you don’t break up your gang, get out. of London, and disperse over the country as quick as possible, I will hunt you all to the gibbet. Now I have Gomicdooks (E(@)