The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XO. THE GMEDLEYS AGATE. Wz must once more request the reader to aceom- pany us to the Smedieys’ habitation sRuated in one of those narrow streets which lie between the lower parts of the Waterloo and Westminster Eoads. The house had precisely the same appear- ance as when we first described it in an earlier chapter of this narrative—with the difference that j there was a neatly written card in one of the win- dows, announcing lodgings to Jet. The brass plate of the front door, indicating the avocation of Mr. Smedley as a goldbeater, was well polished, as was ite wont: the gilt arm, clutching the hammer in ita fist as a farther illustration of that individual’s calling, was equally resplendent. ‘The two win- dots of the first floor had their dark moreen cur- tains and their white blinds as usual; and Mr. Smedley himself was as constant an attendant at, the chapel next door as when we fitet iftroduced him to our reader. It was evening—and Mr. and Mes. Smedley were seated together in their little parlour on the ground floor. There was a botile of spirits upon the table; and the somewhat inflamed countenance of Bab Smedley showed that she had been indulging in her predilection for strong waters. Not how- ever that she had imbibed thereof so copiously on the present occasion as to affect her reason—but only sufficient to render her eomewhat sharper and more querulous in her observations to her husband. They were discussing the circumstances of their position, and deliberating on the plans which they ought to adopt: but it was in low whispering voices that they for the most part addressed each other,—though every now and then the woman’s ejaculations became louder qith the petulant im- patience of her utterance ; then Jack Smedley would interpose a timid and hasty “ Hush {" Presently Sirs. Smedley, consulting her hus- band’s silver watch which lay upon the table, said, “It is close upon nine o'clock, Jack: you must be off with that money.” , “And I will just take a few of those religious tracts,” said Smedley, rising from his seat: “ be- cause if I happen to be séeneputting anything into those chaps’ hands, and if any question is askad, I cgn easily declare that it was one of these blicaéions.” THD WYSTmAtEs OF THD COUsT. Herity ¢ but it was only a very cold that in each he received. Muttering to him. solf an imprecation against the individuale who were thus frigid towards him, Smedley continued his way; and in about ten minutes he reaghed Mint Street. Some little improvemeps had within the last few yelirs been made in thig neighbour- hood: but it was still at the time at whioh we are writing—ae it also is at the present day—the re- rt of all eociety’s lowest and vileat outcasts. ABvery now and then Jack Smedley Jooked back y eco if be were followed by any suspicious indi- vidual; and in order to give a colour to his visis to this vile neighbourhood, he occasionally put a tract into some hand that was thrust forth with the expectation of receiving alms. This proceed- ing on Me. Smediey’s part brought down upon him the curse of disappointment or the gibe of ridicule: but he cared not. At length .Mr. Smedley reached the corner of a narrow diverging street, or rather miserable ob- secure alley; and there he beheld a couple of ill- looking, squalid, ragged youths, standing together. These were the brothers Bill and Tim Scott; and in no way was their hideous personal appearance altered since we -first introduced them to the er. Now Jack Smedley glanced around him with even & more searching anxiety than he bad pre- viously displayed: but flattering himeelf that the const was perfectly clear, eo far as any suspicious- looking individual was concerned, he took the little packet of money from his Waistcoat-pocket, and thrust it into the outstretched hand of Bill Scott. The large goggle eyes of the miserable being glis- tened with a greedy delight; and his stunted brother Tim, catching huld of Jack Smedley’s sleeve, asked impatiently, “How much have you gived him? cos why he’s safe to bilk his own brother, if so be he has a chance (” “You'll find a pound in thas paper,” responded the gold-beater quickly. “But don’t detain me! —and for heaven’s sake don’t atand looking about in the street, or -go and get drunk at any boosing-ken and make fools of yourselves. “ Never you ut, Mr, Smedley!” said Bill Scott, the elder brother. “But what of Barney ? er ee agin Por has nuffin been heard on “ Nothing,” replied Smedley; “and he has not been retaken—~at least not to my knowledge. I always ‘ook at the newspaper ——-" “ Well, I e’pose Barney will turn up agin some of these here days,” said Bill Scott; “and the sooner the better—for I'm getting unkimmon “"e'Xou ought to be thanlfal” reeponded Sased- * You t to be “ ley, thes you've got such a good friend in me. Bat I can’t stop another momen}. This day week th prosiealy the same hour...” “ is it to be” asked Bill Soott. “Where ?"—end after an instant’s musing, seek Om Ay added, ® As Whe beck of Bt. George's Having thus spoken, the goldbeater turned u bis tosh, Sad setnoed his way slong Mint care however the to be more in his tract-distribation than while pre in the contrary dirpetion. Frequent were, anszious glances whieh he rapidly Sang around . e ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)