The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 372: what you’re looking at

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

- ave Tare eee ee eee i tiniiiliee in alow but quaking, quivering tone, as if the oltl man had resolved upen the performance of some- thing which he nevertheless trembled to think of. “Larry Sampson and his people are sure somehow or angther to trace thé- fellow to my house; and what will become of mé if I amg canght harbouring amurdyer? There will be a hue and cry ptesently —handbills printed—placarda*p@sted—and perhaps rewards offered: so that when once all this is done, 1 can't possibly pretend to remain ignorant of the fellow’s crime any longer. °Besides, why should he be here at all, if not to conceal himself from pur- sul: ?—and therefore you see, ny worthy friend, that if 1 do continue to harbouf him I shal! be taken: up as an accessory after the fact. This wil! never, never do.” e . e *'To be sure not,” responded the Swag Chovey Bloaks; “and therefore, all things cousidered, you do weil to give him up. So, as there is no time to be lost, I will just trudge along to duirsy Sainpson's and give him the proper information.” e “But mind you telk him I sent you<-mind you don’t forget that,” urged old Jeremy, “It's of the highest importance “Don't be afraid—I shan'’t forget if” returned the other fence. “In less than a couple of hours you may rely upou seeing Larry down here with a lot of his people. But I say, by the bye,” added the Swag Chovey Bloak, “there is no chance of his searching sour premis¢s—is there ?” “Who search the premises ?” asked old Jeremy. “Why, Larry Sanpson to be sure,” was the re- sponse. “Coming to ariest a murderer, don't you think he may take it into bis head to have a look all over the huuse 2?” * And if he did,” interrupted old Jeremy Hum- page, “you don’t think for a momeut that with all his keen seent and eagle eyes Larry Sumpsoun could find the secret dvur in the passage over- head? No,nos it’s a precioas deal too well hid- deu! Dvesn’s it fit into the wainscot just as if it wasn't 2 dvor at all? and who would think fora mument, when visiting the two chambers on the right hand in that passage, that there was another room lying between them? No, ov, my excellent friend, there is nut the slightest chauce of Larry poking his nose into the secret crib there and fini- ing the lump of silver in the melting-pot! Be- sides,” added old Jvreny in a more serious tone— for he had been chuckling with a sort of triun- phant garrulity while previously speaking —“ there will be no searching of the premises at all. To search one’s premises is to treat one as an accom- piice of the criminal who is arrested: but as it’s me myself that sends up the information, thropih yeu, tu Lacry Sampson, he can’t possibly trea’ me as an uccomplice,” “ Well, well—you know best,” rejoined the Swag Chovey Bloak; “aud if you are subofied, I aw suieLam. For my part, I shan’t bevat all sorry to see the Hanginan hung up himself. J never hked him, Besides, he's dune for now, and useless to os: he will never put no more things in our way—~ and therefore the sooner he’s got 1id of, the better.” ° “Yes, yes—that’s exactly my opinjon,” said Humpage. “ Aud now let's waste nv morc time in words; but you be off at once to Larry Samp- eon's.” . “{ shall go straight there,” answered the Swag 6 a TRE MYGPER Lis OF THE COURT, ae ee es eee ee ee r oe oe ee ed - a ene ca PL TG Pe Rr APE I, AA a a RENAE theta — a 2 fg RPE NN PE FES OES SAPP fT, Pa AR a PS CA OD JOD St ES GES ak ~~ = —_ — = —-— ene kee oe ee ee Chovey Bluak. “ It’s now half-pist three o’elock by half-past five at latest Larry and his men wil! be down here. [ suppose you will sit up for them ?° “Yes, yes,” respouded [umpage, in a shakine, quivering whisper. “ Iam inno humour to sleep— nota bit of it. Sv, when youare gone, I shall wat with anxiety till Simpson and the runners com." “ Now then I will be off :"—and with these wards, the Swag Chavey Blonk moved upon tiptoe t>- wards the duor of*the chamber, followed by old Humpage, who went tu let him out of the house. When they had issued from the room, Danie! Coffin lay still underneath the bed until the sound: of their retreating fiotstepa were no longer audi- ble; and tt®n he creps forth from his hidiny-place. The expression of his counteffauc® was even more diabolic than when he had been startled by vatch- ing the reflection of his features in the looking- ylass ;—with all the concentrated rage of a fiend, he was panting for revenge. His worst fears were confirmed—Humpage mtant to betray him—anea now he actually yéarued to embraue his hands in the old man’s blood. “Io two hours Larry Sampson and his men will be here—eh?” he muttered to himself: “ but by that time I shall be far away. Two hours indeed! —ten minutes are now enough for the work that I havegot todo! 1 am alnoat sorry I let that o! { scoundrel the Sway Chovey Bloak get off so exusy: but it woulda’t have done to reveal myself from under the bed. At the first appearance of my precious countenance peeping forth, they would have raised an alarm before I could have knocke.l either of them on the head—the old housekeeper would have heard their cries—and the game would have been up with me. But as it is, 1 am right ecnourh now [” Such wero the Hangman’s musings as he con- cealed himself behiud one of the bed-curtains. He felt pretty well assured that old Jeremy Hum- page would return to his chamber, either to lie down and rest, or else to wash himsclf: for it was quite evident that he had been up all nightiy com- pany with the Swag Chovey Bloak, and engaged in the pleasing occupation of meiting down four- hundred pounds’ worth of Mver plate. The Uangman’s conjecture was correct relative to the return of old Jeremy Humpage to the chame ber, so soon as he had shown his brothér fence out of the house. Still and motiuniess as a statue bee hind the curtain, Daniel Coffiu listened with breath- less attention ; and in the cuurse of a few minutes hé@ heard the old man’s stealthy steps approaching along the passage. “ He walks as if he was treading on eggs,” said the Hangtnan to himscif. “ That’s because he's afraid of disturbine me: but L think it’s a deuced deal more likely that I shall disturb him ia a | initute or two.” : As the wonster thus mused iuterpally, he drew furth his terrible clasp-knife, and. opened the biade, which, by means of a spriug or catch, re- mained fixe), rendering the weapon as serviceally formidable us a stiletto. Jeremy Humpage entered the chamber very noiselessly--shut the door—and Jocked it. He shen approached the washing-stand, threw off hia coat, and prepared to cqmmence his ablutions, From behind the curtain Daniel Coffin watched his movements; and presently he beheld the old lin ( O) LDOC < S)