The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 276: what you’re looking at

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“No. As we have commenced the business by ourselves,” answered Stanley, “we will have the satisfaction of carrying it out. Listen, Meredith ! THR MYSTERINS OF THE COURT. « No—I have not forgotten it,” responded Stan- ley: and drawing forth his pocket-book from t breast of his under-coat, he displayed a roll of We have excellent reason to believe that the vil- | benk-notes, lain Barney is in that howse—and what is more, that he is in the room precisely above that where we were seated: for I was attentive to the sounds of Mother Bambridge’s footateps when she. wont up with the wine. These are great points gained —and far more tham we could have expected as the result of the first night’s esearch. But the first night’s search shall be the last—or I am very much mistaken. I see that you do not understand me. Let us turn into this street; it is the one behind the alley from which we have emerged.” ‘‘And your reason for letting us be robbed so quietly ?” inquired Lord Charles. “Those bullies were evidently brought in to pownoe upon us suddenly when Mother Bam- ridge hoped to persuade us to go up-stairs to bed. If, an attaek beimg made, we had resisted them, we should have shown ourselves to be seber ; and whether conquerors or conquered, the sus- picion which our bebaviour had would have been confirmed. The wretches would have felt convinced that we had an ulterior ob- ject; perhaps they would have supposed that we were looking for Barney: but at all events for security's sake they would quickly have got him off to some other lurking-hole. As it is, all sus- picion is completely set at rest: they flatter them- elves they had to do with a couple of gentlemen who were really having watched us out of the alley, they are lulled into the completest security. Such is the result of our having suffered ourselves to bo robbed so quietly, as you express it.” “And what do you think Mother Bambridge went up-stairs fur to the villain’s room? or how can you tell that it was his room at all?” asked the nobleman. . “Of course I can but surmise,” responded Stanley; “and upon this surmise we must act, She doubtless went up to him to bid him be in readiness in case his services should be required to help in dealing with us. When she went out the second time* to fetch in the bullies, it was really to the front parlour she proceeded : for I listened to the course that her footsteps took.” “Now, what is your plan?” inquired Lord Charles Meredith. Captain Stanley rapidly explained it; and his noble friend unhesitatingly agreed to succour him in carrying it out. The little colloguy that we dave described, brought them to the extremity of the narrow street which they had entered, and which ran parallel to the alley. A very few minutes’ obser- vation showed them that the house which was im-. mediately behind Mother Bambridge’s establish- ment, was a email chandlery-shop; and Stanley observed to his noble friend, “This is all the better for our purpose; because a money-making tradesman of a mean and peddling description will | forgive us for awakening him if we slip a five-. | and my companion have just been robbed theres. pound note into his hand.” “I do verily believe, my dear fellow,” answered Lord Charles, “that you have forgotten the little circumstance of our purses being left behind in the adjacent alley.” tipsy; and rest assured that | handsome watches, massive chains, and w They now knocked ef the door of the chandlery, shop; and in a few minutes @ head with a cotton, night-cap on, was thrust from an upper window, The owner of the head and the night-cap was about to give vent to his indignation af being knocked up by a couple of rakes, as he thought, out upon their noeturnal frolics: but 9 few quick] uttered words from Captain Stanley’s hps, and the display of a bank-note, made a prompt change im the man’s temper. Ho drew ia his head—ebut down the window—and in s couple of minutes appeared at bis shop-door,—having just huddled {0n & sufficiency of clothing for decency’s sake. He admitted the two officers, and then inquired their business. Captain Stanley, closing the door of the. put the five-pound note into the man’s band; an said to him, “ ’¢ be alarmed—and don’t ask any unmecessary questions: but we want, in the first place, to peep through one of the back win- dows of your dwelling.” The chandler, who was an active, bustling, eccen- tric little man, etared in amaszoment at this re- quest ; and recurring to his former opinion thas the whole proceeding was an impudent frolic, he examined the note, expecting to find that it issued from the Bank of Elegance instead of the Bank of England. On discovering however that it was really genuine, he became perfectly civil once more; and thinking he had better humour his two customers, whatever their object might be— if indeed they had any at all—he conducted them into his little parlour, which was behind the shop, There wag an outaide shutter to the window ; and the priamatic rays of the morning light—for it was the middle of the month of June—penetzated through a heart-shaped hole in that shutter, By means of this hole Stenley was enabled to take his survey of the rear of the chandler’s dwelling, There wasa little yard eeparated by a low wai] from a larger yard which belonged to Mother Bam- idge’s establiahment: at every one of the back indows of that establishment the blinds ware drawn down; and therefore it was reasonable to suppose that the mmates had retired to rest, well contented with their spoil in the ab ae “ Have you got a ladder?” inquired. Stanley of The volatile little amen made one bound of aston ishment at this question so abruptly put; and then. ‘the looked dismayed as the idea flashed to his mind that he had to do with two lunatics just escaped from an asylum. The two suppased lunatics could’ mot help smiling at these variations of expression. on the chandler’s countenance; and Stanley, pers. ceiving the necessity of giving same sort of oxpha- mation, addressed him as follows :— . “My good fellow, I need not tell you that the. place which we see opposite is a den of infamy. ff and we mean to get in by some means or anothar, to compel the wretches to disgorge they plunder. Now will you assist us—or will you mot P” “Ab, that I cheerfully will!” exclaimed the (GO) an (C DOO Col