The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

Re a I NT IS TTS — ae a ee fe =_—_—————— Se ee ee ee ee ee er ee ree ee oe oe ag Ran crete ye gf TS INEST) HB pt gg a th Aap eMC oan i mmm, ES eat - -do L66 looking fellow, though they were both hand- Eome enough.” ‘*T did not for a moment wish you to infer that I was one of them,’ remarked Jocelyn. “But what 1] require ia that you relate to me every detail and particular councocted with that affair whereof we aro spenking.”’ © Before we do so,” said Kobolt, “there are iwo Jittle preliminaries “to be fulfilled. The first is for you to tell ns why you wish to aa- certain these particulars at all; and the Becund is to afford us a proof that you know how to reward handsomely as well us to cute- chise closely,”’ ‘‘In respect to the first condition which you have set forth,” returned Jocelyn, ‘it must suffice for you to know that you will not in the slightest degree endanger yourselves hy giving mo theinformation J seek : and secondly, J have t@enty louis sect apart fpr you in my waistoat-pocket. Here, give me your hand, K reg hh and I will count them ito your ya) m,”? « “This is business-like,” said Walden, the * Nothing like Englishmen for doing things in & business-like manner,” said Kobolt. “Yon ean go into the light,’ said Jocelyn, when he had given Kobolt. the inoney, “und satisfy yourself that they are all god picees.”’ ‘Che chink is enongh for me,’ observed the ruffiian as he made the coin jingle jn his hand : then cousiguing if to his pocket, he continued thus :--~-" Some weeks ago an Enelish gentleman, why gaye the name of Smith—wasn't it Smith, Hernani ? English- 3 “Just so,” was the reply. ‘ Nine men out of every ten are named Sunith.’ * Woll then, this Monsicur Smith managed to introduce himself to us—no matter how—and after a@ time he engaged us for a particular business. We were to got a post-chaise and four horses to carry off two jadies from the [nglish Princess’s villa. One Jady was to be walking inside the grounds in one particular spot—the othe? also inside the grounds, but at anothor spot. We were to seize upon them— seal their lips—not with kisses,’’ added the fellow, chuckling coarsely : “no, no—the gentle- men were to do thal--but with ow: Lands ; syd we wero told not to damage their sweet lips and beantifnl teeth——” “Ah! then you were led to believe that. the two ladies were young and heautiful?’* sad Loftus. ‘So wo faneied,’”’ rolurned Koboll: “but we window sad mistake. Jn a word, we carriod off two females from the very places pointed out {o us: but they turned ont to be t&o elderly hage. Well, ax there are many different ideas about heautv, and as we didn’t exactly know what English taste might be, we resalved to keep possession of the old ladies—particularly as we had found them each in the very spot pointed out by our employers. But when we got to Lausanne, by the Saints! what a scene ensucd. Jt was indeed a mistake from begin- ning to end; and so there was nothing Icft to ut to bring the old Indies back again. This'we did, having been assured that wo should not be troubled in the matter: and sure enough we nover huve heard any more of the business in any shape or way.” “So far, so good,” said Jocelyn: “amd now will you be pleased 10 inform me whether, dur- ing the Jast three weeks—indeed, ever since tenn ee ry oa] reales, hee é THE MYSTERIES. that particular ni ht—you ‘have experienced any peculiar good luck in your avocation as fishers of men P’’« ‘To tell you the truth,” answered Kobolt, “this is the first time we resumed our fishing ' occupation since that very night whereof we have been speaking: and for this seeming idjeness on our part there havé been two reasons. ‘The first is, we heard that a watch had been set for us by the police, and so we thought we would rest awhile till we found the coast clear again: and secondly, we were so well paid by your fellow-countrymen Smith and Thompson, that we could afford to give our- selves a holiday for a short time.” “‘ Well, and now there need be no farther de- Jay in continuing your night’s sport,” returned our hero. ‘“‘ Perdition! ejaculated Hernani: “the young gcntieman wishes to see us at our work.” . “Or else,” added Walden, “he wants to be- come one of us,” ' * Hold your tongues ? growled Kobolt, savagely : ‘the gentleman has some other and eorpes meaning. Now, sir, whatis it? I.ect us be frank with each other.” “I have no objection,” rejoined Jocelyn. * Know then, that 1 have some reason to , “ heave the corpse of a child—a new-born infant— was thrown jato the lake close by this very jetty about three weeks ago. From what I have understood it was wrapped in a flannel that was carefully tied rpufid it——’”’ ‘And ay want it fished np for some reason or another?’ said Kobolt, interrogatively. Woll, if it was sunk with a stone or wany- thing heavy, it is nu doubt at the botiom still : for whatever gets into what may be galled the little bay on either side of tho yetty, alvays re- mains there.’ ~ Well,” said Jocelyn, ‘‘ let us wasie no more time in words. You liked the chink of those twenty lonis so well that you would doubtless be ploased to finger another twenty. You shall ry if you drag me up the corpse of that child !’ The three mon oxehanged amongst themselves afew low and rapidly-whispered observations in their peenuliar orgot, or slang-launguage, which, as we have above stated, was ulterly incomprchensive to our hero. This discourse ouly lasted for a minute; and when it was over, Woboft, againaddressing Loftus in the French tongue, said, “ Your request about this child is so extraordinary that I and my companions hezitate to proceed farther unless you givo us some explanaticn. Thotruth is, it is like ad- vancing in the dark. We do not see into what trouble we might get ourselves; and though we are no cowards, and not over particniar what, we do as jong as we are well paid, yct we do not exactly choose to walk blindfold ovér a precipice.”’ ‘““] shall assuredly give you no explanations atall,” said Loftus. “If the corpse be found, I pay you for it and take it away with me. Whatever danger may result, will accrue only unto me; and J am prepared to encounter it. But I do not wish you to procecd further unless you choose. Wait until to-morrow night; and in the meantime ask Dr. Maravelli whether Then, if despite the answer still hebitate, l am trustworthy. you receive from him, you shoul 1 can but purchase draysand come and fish as you call it, on fny own account.” Again did the three men converse together in LE SS TPS OF SS SSS SG 7a oS PP ES Sa a ec a I ea a A 2 I a ag err — ba ad Ld PF oe or a = ALG 7 AOC) < =