The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

“ Well, I'll tell you thie much, Mr. Mobba,” inter- rapted Carrotty Poll, who was now satisfied that the man’s visit to the Beggar’s Staff did not regard her sire: “I know no more where my father is at this moment than you do—and I'm precious uneasy about him into the bargain. But what’s brought you over to the Staff this evening ?” she inquired, as she placed before Mobbs the reeking glass of rum-puach which she had just mixed for his special behoof. « I’ve already told you it isn’t official—nor more it is” responded the man, taking off his hat and com- forter, and unbuttoning his drab coat: “ but it’s what may be called semi-official,” he added, with a ehuckle, as if he had given utterance to a very witty thin “ r don't understand you, Mr. Mobbs,” observed Carrotty Poll, again experiencing an uneasy sensation on account of the ambiguity of the fellow’s remark. “ Well, what [ mean is soon explained, Miss,” re- joined Mobbs: “and the loog and the short of the matter is that I’m no more a constable at this mo- ment than you are, but that I've come here to see if I can obtain any clue to the unravelling of a par- tickler busiuess so that I may get restored to my situation.” “Then you're suspended, Mr. Mobbs?” said Poll, inquiringly. “ Just so,” was the answer: “ and consekvently my visit is only half-official, as the saying is.” “ Well, but what is the business about ?” demanded the red-haired young woman, somewhat snappishly -~for her courage came back, and with it a portion of her natural ill-temper, when she learnt that Mobbs was no longer dangerous nor terrible. “The fact is,” said this individual, “ you’ve no doubt heard how a certain Caroline Walters gave me and Grumiley the slip a week ago——" “ Yee—she jumped out of the window and drowned herself,” interrupted Carrotty Poll. “At least, so we heard it reported in Horslydown.” “ Well, the rumour was tolerably correct,” con- tinued Mobbs : “ but ever since the very night of that occurrence Grumley has been missing in a most unaccountable manner—and so the magistrates natu- turally suspect that he’s bolted on account of that affair. “ P’raps they don’t believe the story of the young woman's leap from the window in order to commit suicide?” observed Carrotty Poll. “You've just hit it, Miss,” exclaimed Mobbs. “The disappearance of Grumley has thrown sus- picion on the whole affair—and the authorities will bave it that me and him was bribed to let the prisoner Caroline Walters escape. So I am sus- pended until euch time as the matter can be cleared up saytisfactorily.” “But how do you hope to gain any clue at the Staff to your friend Grumley’s proceedings?” de- manded Carrotty Poll, with an acerbity which she scarcely took the trouble to conceal. “ Remember, Mr. Mobbs, that J for one have no reason to be grate- {ul cither to you or Mr. Grumley for nabbing my father——” “Quite in the way of business, my dear,” inter- rupted Mobbs: “ and remember that although I am suspended now, I may soon be restored to my post —and I shall not fail to mark them as treats me with incivility while l’'m under the cloud.” “T'm sure I wouldn’t treat you with incivility for the world, Mr. Mobbe,” exclaimed Carrotty Poll, THE MYSTERIES, understanding the significancy and feeling the force of the imptied menace. “ But pray do tell me what information you hoped to obtain at the Staff?” ahe inquired, with renewed mildness of tone and manner. “ Why, to speak plain, Miss,” said Mobbs, after a few moments’ deep rumination, “I've been weighing in my mind this business of Grumley’s sudden dis- appearance—and the longer I think of it, the more I’m convincel that he’s made himself scarce for certain reasons——” . “Ah! I Segin to understand,” exclaimed Carrotty Poll, whose shrewdness enabled her to detect the rancour which was lurking at the bottom of the man’s mind io respect to his late superior in office. “Mr. Grumley hasn’t behaved well towards you ia respect to your share of the proceeds of some trans- action—pr’aps this very affair of Caroline Walters’s euicide,” abe added, with a significant leer. “ Well, well,” said Mobbs, laughing: “ it’s likely enough you ain't far wide of the mark, Miss.” “ And so Grumley has really cheated you out of your regulars?” observed Carrotty Poll, in a musing tone. “I shouldn’t have thought him capable of it.” “Neither did I,” rejoined Mobbs. “ But there's no saying what may happen in this world, or what a man may do. LHowsomever, it’s of no use to waste walyable time in idle obserwations; and so 1’ll just tell you at once what I want with you and why [ come to the Staff to-night. That Grumley has made himself scarce, I’m pretty sure—anod that he’s got a large sum of money in his possession, there’e no doubt. Now such a man won't leave London: I know his habits too well for that. He'll keep quiet till the affair about Caroline Walters has blowed over; and then he'll either manage to make his peace with the authorities, or else set up io business as a thief-catcher on his own account. But he sban’t bilk me in no such a fashion; and therefore I'm re- solved to ferret him out. If so be, then, you'll help me, I’ll make it well worth your while: for I'll give you fifty guineas for any such information as may enable me to unkeunel the old fox—and what’s more, Ill take care that in future you shall always have a private hint conveyed to you when anything dies- agreeable turns up respecting the frequenters of the StafE Now then, do you understand me ?—and oan we atrike a bargain f” “TI think we may,” replied Carrotty Poll. “ And if any onein London can obtain a trace of Grumley’s retreat, that person is myself—for there isn’t a soui frequenting the Staff that won’t be upoa the look- out when I give the word.” “That's exactly what I thought,” said Mobbs: “and as Grumiey is very naturally detested by all your folks, they'll be glad‘to do him an ill turn.” “No doubt,” observed Carrotty Poll. “ But sup- pose he should return to Bow Street and make his peace with the authorities—won’t he remember me for any evil office that I may have done him ?” “How should he know anythink about it 2* de- manded Mobbe. “Come, Miss Price—there's ne need of being timid in the matter—as I mean faire play on my part.” “ But how am I to know, Mr. Mobbe,” said Car- rotty Poll, “ that all this isn’t some sly plant on your part—for some purpose or another-——” “ Lord bless ye, ny dear!” exclaimed the ill-look- ing fellow, endeavouring to appear aS amiable as possible; “what objeck can I have to serve in all this, except the one l’ve explained to you? 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