The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

Sa ie. gto wow ey aE, or -r o <2 Rewer = EE ee ED onan —_- = _— uaa _—— - — - ~—aw ee Ee oe eee vs om Eee aa ee _ wn wel q ->r we mp | | | Ae ie BRR Hs sible for us to obtain admission to such a place, would not the detectives themselves gssume a par- ticular apparel and penetrate thither P” “ Bless you, sir,” answered the conatable ; “ those kind of villains would recognise the detectives in a moment, no matter how disguised, They are keen and cunning enough to distinguish between real gentlemen, such as you are, and other persons dreat up to play the part of gentlemen. That you can get-into these haunte of which we are speaking, thore is little doubt: indeed you are pretty sure to be invited there by those who would at once mark you as their prey. But I again warn you of the risk you will have to run; and unless you are well armed -——-” “We took that precaution before we set out,” interrupted Captain Stanley. “We have each a brace of double-barrelled pietola and a good clasp- knife upon our persons.” “ And this stick of mine,” added Lord Charles Meredith, “though it seems only a gentleman’s walking-cano, is a lite-preserver and well! loaded at the top.” . “Thon you are decided, gentlemen?’ asked the constable, still with a hesitating and dubious man- ner: “for recollect that I cannot accompany you.” We aro decided,” said Captain Stanley. “ Lead the way as far as you consider if prudent to con- duct us, in order to show ue the route,” The constable accordingly struck into another labyrinth of low streets, alleys, and courte, all of which he aseured Lord Charlea and Captain Stanley were swarming with loathsome life like a morass with reptilea; and the two gentlemen soon lost every idea of their whereabouts. At length the constable stopped short in the middle of a narrow strect, feebly lighted with gas-lamps, and where the houses all bad a dark and sinister ap- pearance. “ Now, gontlemen,” he said, “ I muat accompany you no further—or my presence may frustrate the object you have in view. Proceed to the end of this street—take the turning to the right and the avoond to the left. If you could make a pretence of being in liquor, it will serve your purpose all the better. I need tell you no more: for if anything happens to forward your views, it will take place somewhere about the spot to which I am directing you-and you will be enebled to judge for your- , selves.” Avother liberal donation rewarded the police- constable for hia civility and his assistance ; and be thon parted company from Lord Charles Mere- dith and Captain Stanley. CHAPTER XLIX® MOTHER BAMBRIDGE’S ESTABLISHMENT. FoLLOWING the vonstable’s directions, the two adventurous military officers took the turn to the right and then the second to the Jeft,—this latter bringing them into an alley which wag very narrow at its entrance, but suddenly widened somewhat as they advanced into it, from the fact of the houses being built farther back on either gide. These bouses which thus stood back, were higher than thioee at the entrance of the alley, and they had THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. wooden fences in front, enclosing what were meant to be little bite of garden, about a couple of yards wide. Midway down the alley stood two public-houses, nearly fronting each other: or to be more par- ticular still, one was a public-house and the other a beer-shop. Over the former was a flaring gas- light—over the latter a lamp of more modest pre- tensions: but the two together illumined all that part of the alley. Lights were still burning in several of the adjacent houses; and asthe drizzling rain had by this time ceased, there was no misty veil to obscure the light thus thrown forth. Fron both public-house and beer-shop the sounds of uproarious revelry pealed forth, and in such dis- cordant strains as to leave a doubt in the minds of the two officers whether there was not as much wrangling as merriment in the din which thus emote their ears. In front, too, of both these houses of entertainment several loose women,— some apparelled with flaunting pretension—were loitering in company with men who were dressed in what may be termed a “ swellish style.” A little beyond the beer-shop, a black doll with a piece of white calico wrapped round, doubtless to serve as a frock, swung over the door of a ra and bottle shop,—the windows of which displayed pictures in rudely executed water colours, repre- senting plum-puddings, as an intimation thaf housewives by means of thrift in disposing of their dripping, their rags, and their broken glass, might at the end of the year save.up sufficient to provide the Christmas comestible thus illustrated. Nearly opposite the shop just named, was a marine-sture dealer’s; and both establishments were open, although it was now close upon one in the morn. ing. The light of candles shone dimly forth from the doorways; and every now and then an ine ' dividual—male or female—might be seen coming from the opposite extremity of the alley and diving abruptly into one or the other of these shops,— having however in the firat instance cast a rapid glance of scrutiny around, to make sure that no police-constable was nigh. It required no prompt ing beyond what their own common sense sug- gested, to enable the two officors to judge that both the marine-store doealer’s and the rag-shup were in reality receptacles for stolen goods, and that it was for the accommodation of their patrons they thus kept open so late. Mindful of the friendly constable’s advice, Cap- - tain Stanley and Lord Charles Meredith affected to be somewhat the worse for liquor as they ad- } vanced within the sphere of light. “Where the deuce have our wandering steps brought us?” exclaimed Stanley, purposely speak- ing loud enough to be overheard by the loiterets in front of the two houses of entertainment. “JT have no more idea than the man in the moon,” responded Lord Charles. “It was all owing to that last bottle of wine " ‘Well, never mind!” cried Stanley, with a well-assumed manner of devil-me-care rakishness. “We must get somewhere at last—that’s very cere tain.” They were now both surrounded &y the flaunt- ingly dressed women whose bullies and flash men purposely hung back, thinking it better to keep aloof until the girls should have got the “swells” in regular tow. NOG —_— . ee ee oe eo eee ee ee ee eee ee eee eee | | ; | | | | | : | —— —- = -_ >= é J | ' | | SS