The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 174: what you’re looking at

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TUE MYSTERIES. taking the body away naked in a haekney-coach: but up comes the solicitor for the executors and says, says he, ‘ Your powers as a sheriff?-officer don't allow you to make a forcibje entry. The lid of this coffin is the front door of the dead bedy's present residence; and you will break & open at your peru’—So my master saw the force of this reasoning and gave up the matter. There's technicalities for you.” “Very remarkable,” exclaimed Page. “Not eo wery wonderful neither,” resumed Mr. Grumley, “ when compared with other things that I can tell you. There was my old friend Duggins, ths horse-dealer. He was a twenty thousand pound man —and he made a will which said, ‘J leave all my bl tch and while horses to my eldest son Joshua Dug- gins ; and the residue af my live stock I leave to my youngest som Samuel.’— Now it seemed that, some of the horses was black—others was white—and others was piebald, or black and white Well, Joshus claimea ‘em sil; ar@ Sammel insists on having the piebalds. A law-suit takes place: and Joshua's counsel argues in this manner:—‘ The black and white horses are clearly bequeathed to my client. He is entitle'l to the black: that is not denied. He ie entitled to the white: that is also undisputed. Well, then, the will gives him the black and white; and therefore he must have the piebald.’ —- The Court couldn't resist this reasonin’; and Joshua gets a judgment accerdingly.” “This counsel deserved the verdict as a reward fix his logic,” observed Page, highly delighted with these anecdoten . “I'll tell you a case that come off last Sessions at the Old Baley,” said Mr. Grumley. “One Bill Starks, a noted thief, was charged in the indictment for feloniously taking a diamond ear-ring from a lady's person. It seems he was togced as a swell- cove and sate next to her st the theatre, where the ce was comm :tted in a moment when al! the au- dience was greatly excited. But Counsellor Sharply pleaded in his defence that there was no robbery from the person: because when the prisoner un- hooked the diafnond drap from the lady's ear, it fell into her lap—and she, instantly perceiving what was done, gave him into custody. So the fact was that there was no taking from the person at all; and he was acquitted.” “Your stories get better and better, Mr. Grumley,” said Page. “It’s only half-past ten,” he added, re- ferring to his watch. “Have you got any more to tell us f° “T.ots,” replied the constable. “ But we mast be jog :ing now—and ['ll give you a few more anecdotes another time Come, genelmen.” Thus speaking, Mr. Peter Grumley rose from his seat; and, opening a cupboard, he took thence a rough and heavy upper-coat, into which he worked himself by innumerable contortiona of his portly frame. In each of the two pockets he thrust a huge horse-pistol: he fastened a cutlass to his waist, so that it was concealed by the great thick coat when buttoned across his ample chest ;—and grasping a stout club, he intimated by a familiar nod and a emile that his preparations were complete, “ Now we'll take a hackney-coach and be off” he obscrved. “ My men, under Mobbe’s orders, are al- ready half-way there.” Mr. Grumley, Sir Richard Stamford, and Mr. Page eallied forth accordingly. ae HOw — 4g —-— /-_ CHAPTER XLVIL Ssortty before midnight the Megsman, the Gat- lows’ Widow, Briggs, the Beggarman, Mr. Martin, and Mr. Rameey were assembled in cenclave at the house in Thacker’s Court. | It wae very evident, by the-manner of the parties, . that a reconciliation had taken place between Ram- sey and the landlord ef the Beggar's Staff: in fact, it wae indiapensable to the interests of the former to forgive, thouzh he might not forget, the murderous attempt made upon him on the river;—and it was owing to the intervention of the Magsman that the affair had been thus petehed up. “Well,” said the formidable Joseph Warren, whe- might be looked on as the president of this council of iniquity, “we can reselve upon nothing until Julia Lightfoot returna, It was ‘fortunate that she happened to be here at the. time, Briggs—or you would hav? had no one to send on thia businesa, and - the night wenld have been lost.” “ Here she is” exclaimed the man to whom the latter remark was addressed: for at the moment & low knock at the front door was heard. In lees than a minate Julia found herself in the presence of the miscreants thus assembled in solems. conclave; snd she was weleomed by the Magsinan, the Big Beggarman, and the Gallows’ Widow as an old acquaintance. Believing, too, that she was sin- cere in her wish to join them, they cengratulated her upon the resolution which she had forrned to that effect. “ And now what news, young woman?” demanded Ramsey, ae she took her seat at the table. “Sir Richard Stamford lives at the house to whieh I was sent,” she replied, without the least indicatiors of embarrassment. “ He has lodged there since yes- terday, and is in and out a great deal. [I pretended to be a poor servant out of place, and got into con versation with the landlady. It happens that she requires a maid-of-all-work just at thé present titne ; and I gave her a reference to some fictitious persom and feigned address.” “ Good,” murmured the Gallows’ Widow, with that. inward kind of low chackle which was more dread- ful to hear than the boisterous mirth of the wildest orgie. “Sir Richard went out while I was there,” con- tinued Julia. “ He is a tall, stoutish man, of com- manding appearance, and very handseme—wears. hessian boots and a short cloak.” “Exactly so!” cried Martin. “You have tracked him to his kennel—and he shal! not escape us.” * As he was going out,” resumed Mrs. Page, “he asked the landlady for s latch-key, saying that he- should not be home again until between two and three in the morning, as he had a consultation with. some Bow Street runners to atten? ——-” “Ah! I told you that the warfare had begun f” exclaimed Ramsey. “He has been collecting hie. proofs—and now he has fairly opened the campaign. What next, young woman * The landlady gave him the latch-key,” proceeded. Julia ; “but as he took it from her hand, it fell wpon- were all three stan !inz close by the tnreshold of the door when this happened. I officiously stooped down, s 462 42 @a~ ow ~—_ 16S t is aap = ap oauneuawD Saas vol va a a a eee tre connicboooks.con