The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

28 THE COURT OF LONDON By Satan! I was never in such a precious rage in my life. I could have blown up the whole world with gunpowder if I had had a chance. I was actually boiling over with a passion that it hurt me to keep down. While hastening back here as quick as I could, a thousand strange thoughts entered my head. I fancied that I should find you all arrested, and that I was only suffered to go at large from Long Acre in order to be nabbed when returning either — home to Fleet Lane, or else coming down here at the Folly Bridges. Then I thought that perhaps Larry only meant to make a joke of it, after all. So what with some hesitation and a good deal of desperation, I resolved to come straight on here and learn what had taken place. But one thing was all the while uppermost in my mind, and this was, that Nell Gibson had betrayed us.” ‘“ There’s no doubt of it,’’ exclaimed Bencull, savagely. ‘And now what’s to be done? ”’ ‘‘ What’s to be done? ”’ thundered the Hangman, starting from his seat and striking his fist with tremendous violence upon the table. ‘“‘ Why, if we were all to hang for it to- morrow morning, Nell Gibson must die to-night! ’’ and as he glared around with his ferocious eyes upon his com- panions, he read assent in all their sinister countenances. ‘That is to say,’’ observed the Buttoner, “if we can find her; but my idea is that she’s cut and run.” ‘““ Not she,’”’ exclaimed the Hangman. ‘ You don’t even know the girl so well as I do. She’s not one to bolt like a coward; what she does, she’ll stand by. Besides, didn’t you tell me that Larry spoke of her just as if she hadn’t peached at all? ”’ ‘““ Yes,’’ observed the Buttoner, ‘‘ but that was his gam- mon. No one could have told him about the fire at the baronet’s except Nell Gibson; and therefore she put him up to our present plot also.” ‘I know all that very well,’’ exclaimed the Hangman, “but what I mean is simple enough. There’s no doubt that Nell Gibson has peached against us, and it’s also clear that Larry has promised not to tell that he had his information from her. This is the reason why he didn’t have us all taken up: because Nell Gibson’s testimony could alone bring home the fire to three of us, and this night’s plot to us all. Well, then, since it’s clear that Larry Sampson has been bound Gomicdooks (E(0)