The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

sible for us to obtain admission to such a place, would not the detectives themselves assume a par- ticular apparel and penetrate thither ?””’ “ Bless you, sir,” answered the constable ; “ 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 drest up to play the part of gentlemen. That you can get into these haunts of which we are speaking, there 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 ; nat eniaes 308 ee wee armed——" “We took that precantion before we set. out,” ” interrupted Captain Stanley. “We have cach a brace of double-barrelled: pistols and » good clasp- knife upon our persons.” “ And this atick of mine,” added ‘Lord Charles Meredith, “though it. seems only a gentleman's walking.cene, isa lfe-proserver and well loaded at the top.” “Yo : “Then you are decided, on?” asked the ounly7% atill with a hesitating‘and dubious. man- : “for recollect that I cannot accompany.:you.”’ oe We are decided,” said Captain Stanley. “ Lead the way as far as you consider it. poudens t0 eon duct us, in order to show us the route.” The constable accordingly. struck into. another labyrinth of low streets, alleys, and courts, all of which he assured, Lord Charlies and Captain Stanley were swarming with loathsome life like a morass with reptiles; and the two. gentlemen soon lost every idea of their whereabouts. - At length the constable stopped short in the middle of a narrow street, feebly lighted with gas-lamps, and where the houses all had a dark and sinister ap- pearance. ; “ Now, gentlemen,” he said, “1 must accompany you no further—or my presence may frustrate the i baarlraliror oe atak Proceed to the end of this street—take the turning to. the right and the second 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 enabled to judge for your- selves.” Another liberal donation rewarded the police- constable for his civility and his assistance ; and be then parted company from Lord Charles Mere- dith and Captain Stanley. CHAPTER eames MOTHER BAMBRIDGR't , BSTABLICHMENT. FoLtowine the constable’s directions, the two adventurous military officers took the turn to the right and then the second to the left,—this latter them into an alley which was very narrow at ite entrance, but suddenly widened somewhat as they advanced into it, from the fact of the houses | i being built farther back on either side. These houses which thus stood back, were higher than those at the entrance of the alley, and they had ‘in front. of the two houses of entertainment. wooden fences in front, what were meant to be little bite of garden, about a couple of yards wide. Midway down the alley stood two public-houses, a beer-shop. Over the former was a flaring gas- light—over the latter a lamp of more modest pre- rain had by this time ceased, there was no misty veil to-obscure the light thus thrown forth. Frora both public-house ‘ and: beer-shop uproarious revelry pealed forth, and cordant strains as to leave a doubt in the: two -officers whether wrangling as merriment 1 emote their ears.: In front, t im what may be termed a “swellish style.” 1 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 « and. bottle shop,—the windows of which pictures in .rudely executed water colours, repre- : plum. as an intimation that housewives by means of thrift in disposing of ther dripping, their rags, and their broken glass, 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-store dealer’s ; and both establishments were opens, although it was now close upon one in the mora- te ing. The light of candles shone dimly forth from ‘the doorways; and every now and then an in- dividual—male or fe be seen pe TE SS eT coming | from the opposite extremity of the alley and diving abruptly into one or the other of these shops,— having however in the first instance cast a rapid glance of scratiny around, to make sure that no police-constable was nigh. ° It required no prompt- ing what their own common sense sug- gested, to enable the two. officers to judge that both the marine-store dealer’s and the rag-shop were in reality receptacles. for stolen goods, and that it was for the accommodation of ther 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 .enoug } ; owing to that last bottle of wine——” “Well, never mind!” ‘cried Stanley, with a well-assumed manner of devil-me-care rakishnew. purposely hung back, Chiakiog | it aloof until the girls should have got the “swells” in regular tow. estate a et 4 (GO) LG C) DOO Col