The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 336: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. | slief upon the tall buildings of a town at a short flistance—and the vehicle was standing at the door of a small cottage, not half so comfortablo-looking as the one which had previously afforded the men such good cheer. The nobleman it was who had aroused his fol- lowers; and they all alighted at this dwelling, the only inhabitant of which appeared to be a very aged, but bustling, active woman, remarkably clean though homely in her apparel. She conducted them inte her cottage, where the table was already spread for breakfast ; and it therefore struck both the Magsman and Beggarman that their presence was not unt xX- pected. This idea was confirmed, when the nobie- man, bidding them follow him up-stairs, conducted them to a chamber where heahowed them two trnoks full of clothing, observing at the same time, “ Here is a complete wardrobe tor each of you: so that the instant we reach Liverpool you will have nothing to do but to step on board a ship which will sail imme- diately afterwards. But you will do well to throw aside the apparel you now have on, and dress your- selves in the garments provided for you. In a word, it will be prudent to make yourselves look as decent and respectable as possible.” Having thus spoken, the masked unknown quitted the chamber, clesing the door behind him. “ Well, I’m blowed if things ain’t done by magic now-a-days,” said the Magsman. “In the first place a carriage was ready waiting for us the night before last when we met our employer in Hyde Park: then, when we reached the bridge, yesterday morning, the lady had nothing to do but walk up to a house and lead forth her victim just for all the world as if she carried a wand which he was bound to obey. Next we are whirled away to a cottage where a comfortable old couple have got everything nice and in readiness to entertain us. At night, a bag is furnished with every implement necessary for the visit to the church-vault—even to the very keys that are to open the church-doors themselves. And now we come this morning to another cottage, where breakfast is ready to serve up, and where a couple of trunks full of all kinds of toggery are waiting for us.” “It looks like a fairy tale, Joe,” said the Beggar- man. “But instead of troubling ourselves about how the trunks and the toggery come here, let us inspect the first and try on the last.” “* So we will,” observed the Mageman. The examination of the boxes accordingly com- menced; and in each one were found two suits of clothes, shirts, stockings, handkerchiefs, hair-brushes, combs, shaving-tackle, boots—in fine, everything ne- cessary for tha outfit of men who were about to un- dertake a tolerably long voyage. The clothing was of good but plain materials, and was of that kind which a respectable artizan or operative would pur- chase. “Well,” ejaculated the Big Beggarman, at last breaking the long silence which bad prevailed dur- ing the inspection of the various articles: “as sure as my name is Stephen Price, I mean to transmog- rify myself in a jiffey. I’ve taken a sudden fit of cleanliness into my head—and I'll see if I can’t make myself look a little respectable.” “You'll never look anything else but a gallows’. bird,” said the Magsman, with a coarse laugh. “Well, Joe,” was the retort, “whenever I moant the scaffold, you won’t be many paces either before er behind me—and the same funeral service will do 425 for us both. But here is a capital ragor; and | mean to have a good shave on the chin at present, whether or not Jack Ketch shall hereafter have the handling of my throat.” The two men proceeded to perform their toilette ; and having wasbed and shaven themselves, they each put on clean linen and a new suit of clothes. “Somehow or another, I don’t feel comfortable when togged off in this fashion,” said the Magsman, as he surveyed himself in a little looking-glass that hung to the whitewashed wall of the humble cham- ber. “You know that even when I’ve had hundreds of pounds in my pocket, I’ve never put myself out of the way to look clean or decent; and an old rough coat has always pleased me better than a new one. The fact is, Stephen, respectability don’t suit me.” “And I never liked it until now,” responded the Big Beggarman. “But I mean to give it a fair trial for a short time.” “I'm afraid you’re too ugly, Stephen, to play your new part properly,” observed the Magsman, chuck- ling at the compliment which he thus paid his asso- ciate. ‘But let’s go down stairs and see if break- fast’s ready: for I’m as hungry as if I hadn’t had anything to eat for a month past.” “Come along, then,” said the Beggarman ;—and they descended accordingly. In the roomi’ below, the masked unknown was al- ready partaking of cofiee at a side table; and the old woman hastened to serve up a vopious repast to the Pai men, who did speedy and ample justice to the The nobleman glanced towards them to assure himself that they had obeyed his instructions and rendered themselves as decent and respectable-look- ing as possible: and, being satisfied on that point, he said to the old woman, “ Have the goodness to pack up the two trunks without delay, so that they may be in readiness by the time the carriage returns with the fresh horses.” “Yes, my lord,” responded the old crone, dropping @ curtsey. “Perdition !” ejaculated the nobleman, instants neously perceiving that the quick ears of the Mage- man and Beggarman had caught those tell-tale words which betrayed his rank: and starting from his seat, he walked once or twice, hastily aud evi dently in creat irritation, up and down the room. “TI beg pardon—sir—my——” stammered the old woman, comprehending the fatal error which she had committed by allowing her tongue to give such glib and ready utterance to the sounding distinotion of “ My lerd.” “Begone—and do as I have commanded you,” said the unknown, pointing imperiously towards the staircase, up which the old woman hurried with an agility that was truly marvellous for one of such advanced age as she evidently was. The Magsman and Beggarman proceeded with their breakfast as if nothing extraordinary had hap- pened, and forebore from any remark on the little incident which had just revealed to them the fact that their employer was of aristocratic rank: for it will be remembered that although the readers have al] along been aware that the masked unknown was a nobleman, his dialogue with Mra. Brace on the night of the Magsman’s intrusion having caused that circumstanee to transpire—yet that the two ruffians now became acquainted with it for the first time. \ CONNEC OOO ‘SS CO