The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

A AD a eS 70 “Ah, Y seo! observed Ohifin. “I ndust make beliewe to keep the coachman in awe while you do the’ rifling business with his outa that it?” “You havo read my purpose exactly,” responded Lady Bess. ‘ And now, do you agree? The booty shall bo disposed of to old Solomon, and of course we will divide the produce equafly—that is to aay, leaviny a third sharo for the coachman.” “‘T like the business, and the business likes me,” responded Chiffin. ‘But is it a-eafe place to do 6 thing of this sort? I mean along the road there, dewn towards Tottenham or Edmonton P” Safe !” echood Lady Bess, her full lips wreathing | . in scopiiful contempt of danger: then as a sudden recollection struck her, sheflaughingly exclaimed, “Why, those things that I have just sold to old Patch wero picked up on that very samo road last night. Ha! ha! ha! it was.2ne of the finest ad- vontures you ever heard of in the whole course of your life. I was galloping out of London along the Seven Sisters Road, when I met a young fellow —nover mind his name, although he told it to me—~ who was wandering about in a benighted state. 8 I offered him a bed at my house——” “Where do you live, then?” asked Chiffin, who with his arm resfing on the table and his head bent forward, was listening attentively to the amason’s tale. « “‘ Nevor mind where I live,” she responded with an arch smile. “Suffice it for you to know that I pretended for the nonce to live in¢hat neighbour. hood, and invited the youngster home. He acoepted the invitation, and got up behind me on my horse. I could perecive that when he held me round the waist ho discovered that I waa not exactly of the sex I at first seomed: for I felt him teombling like an aspen leaf. How I laughed in my sleeve! But our ride did not continue very far: for in a few minutes wo reached a convenicnt part of the road, whero*it is quite lonely, and thore I threw my gen- tleman off and made him survénder up those trinkets which I have just handed ovef to Solomon.” At this moment Lady Bess, who had been talking in a careless off-hand manner, without addressing horself particularly either to the Cannibal or Madge, suddenly raised her eyes and was perfectly struck by the singular look which that woman was fixing upon her. Lady Bess could not possibly ponetrate the meaning of that look: it*was so strange—so sinister—so, unfathomable. —— “Ah! then it was a good night’s work for you P” exclaimed Madge, instantaneously yésuming her wonted aspect, and endeavouring to appear as if she had not: boen excited by any extraordinary emotion. a “'Yos—a tolerably good nigif’s work,” answered tho fernale highwayman, not chvosing to question the woman—at least on that océasion—as to the causo of the strangeness of her manner # moment back. “ Besides this gold,” she went on to say, lcisurely gathering up the money she had received from Patch, and which she had until now left lying upon the table with a careless indifference ooncern- ing it, “I got a well-filled purse from my deluded companion of that double ride on horseback. Poor fellow! he was frightened out of his wits; and I am very sure that he will not go and confess to his mamma,” sho aided, laughing ironically, / that he . t TUR WLATERIES OF THE COURT. 2 oe bee eo ee = qa? ier eee a ee lh ee ARS ea ee ee eee was robbed by a woman. But now I shall take my departure. Chiffin, you will meef me at the bridge over the cana! half-an-hour after midnight. You know where I mean—in the road leading to Tottenham.” “I know,” responded CBiffin; “and 4& shall be thorg belure my tung. It won't take much more than an hour’s walk: ao if I Jeave hero at a quarter past eleben it will be all right.” Lady Bess. now quitted the wretchod-looking room; and descending tho stairs, issued from the public-house: then mountiz her horse, she rode away. . ‘ Quan + CHAPTER XVII. ‘THE LAWYERS. Ir was a rather dark night—for there was no mocn, . and taé clouds that were flitting ovor the face of heaven, borne on the wings of a somewhat strong breeze, obscured the beams of the twinkling stars. The lamps of Mr. Marlow’s carriage wore however lighted; and rapidly was the vehicle procecding along the Tottenham Road, driven by tho treache- rous coachmdn through whose agency the contem- plated robbery had bean suggested. The carriago gras of that kind which én a former instance we have already described asa brougham: it therefore liad no fuotman either standing or seated bénind, the coachman boing the only servant attached tw it. Inside, Mr. Marlow and Mr. Malton were loung- ing comfortably back, conversing upon the paictics which they had so recently quitted at Saxondale JfLouse, and intermingling their discourse with a few businoss-remarks relative to the various matters which theif extensive office had to conduct. For tho firm of Marlow and Malton was one of the most eminent as well ag the wealthiest in London,—all their business being chiofly with clionts belonging te tho highest orders of socicty. : The equipage had just crossed the canal bridze, and was proceeding at a alowcr pace down the some- what steep slope which the road takes in the diroc- tion of Tottenham, when the two lawyers wero suddenly startled by the quick trampling of a horse gallopping upeto the side of the carriage, and a peremptory command to the coachman to stop. At the same instant they saw a tellow with a huge club bound from the side of the road and spring up on the box; where, seizing upon the coachman, he warned him with terrible threats not to offer the slightest. resistance.. The coachman did not mean to do anything of the sort, he being well prepared beforehand for this facetious portion of the drama. Mr. Malton,’ who was on the side nearest to the mounted highwayman, ifistantancously let down the window, and ywith a quick glance surveyed the daring individual whose person was plainly visible by the light of the carriage-lamps. Nevertheless, the keen eyes of Mr. Malton did not detect the real sex of the highwayman; nor could he even catch the slightest glimpse of Lady Hess's countenance, fhasmuch as she had put on a black mask just be; fore stopping the carriago. But Mr. Malton did perceive that the mounted bandit was of somewhat slender make, and at all events afforded no outward indications of any extraordinary degree of physical strength. ‘Such wasethe idea that immediately ERS, a a a ees aces asa ee age eC TT ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)