The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 233: what you’re looking at

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——— ene ee oe rene cee Se Ee i ST 7 SS - ie P a i? ~GS S, ee ee ee GEST ads as. ers 220 This remark at once satisfied the turnkey, who | egress from tite cell. Emmerson was now once perheps would even have been satisfied without it: for he had been long enough employed with- in those prison-walls to know that condemned men were but tvo likely to say aud do strange things, Once more alone with Dick Melmoth, Emmer- eon immediately saw by his‘ manner that the pro- posal had been entertained: and his heart dilated within him “ Well—vhat does your master say? has he agreed? will he accept—~" * Hoe will doit,” answered Dick Melmoth ; “but not under a thousand.” «A thousand !” ejaculated Emmerson: “ that is enormous !” “ Aye—and Coffin says that it is a precious risk to run,” replied Dick. “ Remember it’s no joke to help a man out of such a hobBle as this; and if so be he was caught——” * But he will undertake it?” asked Emmerson nervously. - He will,” rejoined Dick Melmoth. “ But what earnest can you give him that the money will be fortheoming when the work is done 2” * J have the inoney ——” ¢ You !—here?” ejaculated Melmoth. “ Why, if the Sheriff knew it, he would take every farthing away from you in a jiff-y.” “J do not mean here,” returned Emmerson. *“ My wife has got the money—or can get it— a friend will let her have it when the time comes——_" “Ah! but suppose he shouldn't?” said Mel- moth, “ But I know thit he wili,” returned Emmerson positively. “ But Mr. Coffin don’t know it, you see—and he won’t move a peg till he sees that there's nu mis- take about the blunt.” ‘ “ Well then,” said Emmerson, perceiving that it was necessary to Be explicit, my wife has got the money already; and if you I:ke, your master Mr. Coffin ean go and se8 it at her lodgings.” “Well aud good,” observed Dick Melmoth: “this looks like business. Where is the Iddy’s lodgjng ?” “In Fetter Lane:”—-and Emmerson named the number of the house where his wife and daughter were dwelling. “ They will visit me in the course of the day—1 will tell them that a person may pro- bably call upon them this evemng in order to see that they really possess the sum we have named.’ Will that arrangement do ?” “Yes— perfectly,” replied Melmoth. “Mr. Cuffin has left the business to me to manage, because he himself can’$ very well come and see you on account of its not being usual for him to visit persohs iu your situation.” “I understand you,” said Emmerson with a ghastly look: for he knew that the allusion was meant to Coffin in his capacity of public execu- tioner. “ But the plan of my escape—the means— the arrangements——” “ZT wil tell you more to-morrow morning,” in- terrupted Dick Mclmoth. “We must not converse too lung aw,” He then procecded to exercise his tonsorial functions upon Mr. Emmerson, ond by the time he had done, the turnkey came back to give him eae —i-mrre—- THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. more alone, and he proceeded to reflect upon all that had just taken place. But his ret-erie was presently interrupted hy the entrance of the chap- lain; and again did the condemned man conduct himself in a way which induced the reverend genile- man to think most favourably of ¢his state of iaind. Sood after mid-day Mrs. and Miss Emme:son again made their appearances and Emmerson, after explaining to them the nature of the visit they were tu expect in the evening, addressed his wife in the ensuing torms :— “ Now remember, you will skow the person that calls—whoever he may be—one thousand guineas and no more. If he asks whether you possess more, you will give an emphatic reply in the neza- tive. Aud be careful that he sees the money only, and touches it hot: for I am dealing with unscru- pulous characters—necessarily so in the position wkerein I am placed. I need not tell you that it is my life which has to be saved —my life which to & certain extent will be in your hands on this oc- casion !” Mrs. Emmerson promised faithful compliance with her husband’s instructions; and Arabeila was so much affected she went into hysterics, Mr. Emmerson h&ted “a scene,” especially as he wished to avoid every thing tending to dispirit himself; and he therefore was welic pleased when his .wife and daughter took theit departure. He then re- maimed once more alone to pursue his reflections and abandon himself to that condition of dreamy hopetulness which, as we before stated, had the effcct of an opiate to lull him ipto tr@aquillity and security. " CHAPTER CLXVI. THE PRETENDED FRIERD. THEODORE VARIAN had not in the meantime ex- perienced any diminution of that fearful interest which he felt in the fate of his victim—an interest of no compassionating kind, but the aim of which was to ensure the dread catastrophe beyond the interven- tion ¢f anything to prevent it. He nad therefore, on the preceding day and on that of which we are now writing, Jurked about the exterior of Newgate— watching whetéier any of Emmerson’s former friends cate to visit the prison; for it atruck him that the unhappy man might endeavour to obtain the interest of some towards procuring a pardon. Having been a prisoner there himself, Theodore was acquainted with the turnkeys ; and by means of a little bribery aud a little treating at the adjacent public-house, he ascertained the seeming condition of the man’s mind, That is to say, he was told that Emmerson bore him- self tranquilly and with apparent resignation, and that no persons from out-of-doors save his wife and daughter had been admitted to see him. Theodore Varian‘ knew all the ens and onts of Emmerson's character so well ag to be fully aware that anything like resignation on his part could be merely a hypocritical assumption; and he therefore came to the conclusion fhat the doomed man had yet some hope on which he relied, or some project which he was working out. But Varian was deter- mined that hope and project alike should fail, what- ee ee re TE A A ca = © eee eS eee | | COMMU 7 LDOC cS) CO