The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

LL SSS Ss ecm rnaenaacaaenaeey THE MYSTERIES. woman. George Woodfall made no answer: but a hollow moan escaped the picture-dealer ; while the female servant heaved a profound sigh. As for the boy Tom—he dosed off into a comfortable nap ;—and @ deep silence now reigned in the kitchen and lease, *0 long as you do not speak too load,” said throughout the house. CHAPTER LIV. JOR WARREN IN NEWGATH. We must now return to the Magsman, whom we left at the moment when Mrs. Brace, with a studied hypocrisy assumed in order to blind Mr. Soper, raised her hands and eyes in apparent despair at the prisoner’s hardened nature. The heavy door clanged again.upon the solitary eccupant of that cell: he heard the key turn in the lock and the bolts shoot into their sockets ;— and then he waited until the sounds of the retreat- ing footsteps died away in the passage. But so soon as all was still—save the low rum- bling of the vehicles in the adjacent street—the Magsman lost no more time ere he examined the parcel which his wife had so dexterously slipped into his hand. low :— 1. A map, or plan, of Newgate. 2. A small file. 3. Four stout and well-pointed nails. 4 A cord of twisted silk, not much thicker than common string, but strong enough to sustain an immense weight. | 65. Three pieces of iron, each about four inches in length and of the thickness of the thumb, and | which were made to screw together so as to forma small but effective crowbar, or “ jemmy.” 6. A little piece of putty, mixed with black lead. Such were the contents of the parcel; and, | although miscellaneous and numerous, they were . easily packed into a very limited compass. A grim | smile of satisfaction passed over the Magsman's countenance as he examined those articles one , after the other; and having secured the file, the ' nails, the ball of silken cord, the disjointed “jem- my,” and the scrap of paper containing the morsel of putty, about his person, he proceeded to study and scrutinize the plan of Newgate. | We have already stated that he was confined fn that condemned cell which stood last ia the row of five on the ground-floor; and the map now be- fore him showed that his cell was, as he had already auspected it to be, in the north-eastern angle of the gaol. The loop-hole looked upon Newgate Street ; and the people passing along that thorough- fare, under the frowning wall, were within a yard of him. The eastern side of his dungeon joined Mr. Shrubsole’s house. We have also informed the reader that ther were five condemned cells overhead, on the first floor; and another row of oells higher still, on the second floor: consequenfly there were two rooms between the ceiling of the Magsman’s dungeon and the roof of the prison. Having thus examined those details of the plan which especially concerned himself, the Magsman thrast the map into his pocket, and drew forth the The contents thereof were as fol- 191 file. This Httle instrument, scarcely larger than the blade of a pen-knife, was as admirably tem- red asa watch-spring. The Mageman bert it to a complete circle, and it flew back into uninte straightness; and he knew thereby thas’ a Sheffield workshop, and no imitative London ma- nufactory, had produced the file. ’ Seating himself on the pavement-flodr, and hav- ing spread his handkerchief to catch the glistening particles of metal, the Magsman began to file one ofthe huge links of his massive chains. To one leas courageous, persevering, and experienced than ftimeelf, the task now undertaken would have ap- peared about as hopeful as an attempt to pull down a house with a nail: but Joe Warren knew weld what he had to achieve, and the amount of work which the trusty file, with ite sharp and irresis- tible teeth, could accomplish. Presently, the clock of St. Sepuiclire struck one, It was dinner time—and the Magsman hastened to conceal the file and gather up his handkerchief. Then, into the space which the file had opened in the half-severed link, he put some of the putty, which, being black and shining, corresponded so well with the iron that the most keen and piercing eyes could not have detected the process which was in operation. Scarcely was litle arrangement made, when heavy footsteps were heard in the echoing passage~ the bolts were drawh—the door was opened—and the man Soper appeared with a covered dish im one hand and a pot of beer in the other. “Your friends take good care of you, old feller,” said the gaol functionary, as he removed the cover from the dish, more out of curiosity than politeness “Roast fowl, sassages, mashed taturs, and new bread—my eyes! don’t you come it strong? A quart of strong beer, too: well, you ain’t wery much to be pitied, I don’t think. Your grub is a deuced sight better than gaol allowance.” “Will you sit down and have some dinner with me ?* asked the Magsman. - “Can’t stop—or else I would,” responded Soper. “But f don’t mind a drop of beer ;"—and, with these words, he took a tolerable long draught. “I say, old feller,” he obsérved, setting down the pot and wiping his mouth with his coat-sleeve, “ yout trial comes on the day arter to-morrow. F’ve just seed the calendar.” “Well—it can’t be helped,” sald the Mageman. “ve made my mind up to the worst.” “The wery best thing yot can do,” respénded Mr, Soper, intending his remark to bé of a conséla- ory naturé, “ What a precious fine woman that was which I showed round the gag] jué$now! Such eyes—and such teeth—and such a bust? Glfe sive me half-a-guines for my trouble. But I'm perwent- ing you frum eating your dinner—and Px a-vastin my own tine. So Pil be off now and come back in twenty minutes or so for the things.” Soper accordingly retired—locking and’ bolting the door carefully after him. For, with afi his apparens familiarity and good feeling towards thé Magéman and with all the cuaracteristic avarice of.an official he was incorruptible fn this capacity ; and no mon which Joe Warren or his friends had i in th power to offer, would have indaced him to with ér connive at an escape. Indeed, daring the short time he had remained in the cell, his eyes had travelies rapidly, but keenly and searchingly, over every link COMIC OO© SS co