The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 33: what you’re looking at

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20 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ‘Now, Solomon Patch,” she said, turning to- warts the landlord, “here’s fifty pounds in good Bank of England notes; and I am going to entrust the sum to your keeping. You are all witnesses of the deposit !” “Bat what be it for?” asked the old man, gazing with astonishment upon Madge Somers, and almost hesitating to receive the money, lest some treacher- ous intent should lurk beneath this conduct on her Pe Take it—do not be afraid,” she said: “T will soon explain myself. And now listen, all of you! Some years ago there was the manager of a com- pany of strolling-players, whose name was Thomp- son: bu¢ what has become of him, I do not know. It is precisely this knowledge that I want to obtain. If any one will bring me the information I require before sight o'clock in the evening of the twenty- Gest of this month, the individual thus giving mq that information, shall receive the fifty pounds which I have just lodged in the hands of Solomon Patch.” Numerous voices shouted out the willingness of the speakers to enter upon the search. “If he’s above ground, I’m blowed if I don’t ferret him out,” exclaimed Tony Wilkins, darting from his seat with the air of one resolved to enter upon the search at once. “[ knows & many poor vimen as was vunce strolling performers,” observed a half-tipsy female, with a hiccup at every second word she spoke: “it’s astonishing how them poor creaturs comes down in their hold hage. There’s vun as used to play queens and great ladies, and was very poppi- lar: but aow sh@s took to get her livelihood by charing and what not.” “Oh, you be hanged !” ejacalated a rough-looking fellow, eager to put in his word. “I'll have a try for the fifty pound prise. But can’t you give us no more partiklers, Madge ?”’ “ Nothing more,” she responded curtly. “"Spose he’s dead, this feller Thompson,” ob- served-Solomon Patch: “what then? It ain’t no use looking arter him—be it ?” “Unless,” remarked another of the women be- longing to the company of revellers in the tap- foom, “old Bob Shakerly bere would have up his oarkise.” “ A truce to this nonsense,” if Madge, with a severe look. “I have said what I wanted, and the reward is lodged in Solomon’s hands. Those who like to undertake the search, can do it: those who don’t, can leave it alone. But it may be that if the infermation is given to me at the time spe- eified, I shall increase the amount of recompense ing to my means.” “‘ Unless she loses every skurrick she’s got at the vimen’s gaming-table on Saffron Hill,” whispered one of the guests to another. “Well, I’m off at once,” said Tony Wilkins. “Fifty pounds! my eye, it isn’t to be got every Somers. “From seven to eight o'clock on the evening of the twenty-first of August, I shall be here to receive the information required, if any one is enabled to furnish it. But I expect positive proof of the agouracy of this information. In short, Sol Patch will not part with the reward until the intel- ligence that may be brought is shows to be cor. rect.” Having thus spoken, Madge Somers turned ab- ruptly round and issued from the room. Passing into the bar-parlour, she desired Mrs. Patch to give her some refreshments in the shape of eatables; and the order being obeyed, the woman commenced an attack upon the cold meat and other things placed before her, which showed that she must have been fasting some hours. Meanwhile Solomon Patch, having secured the fifty pounds in his strong- box, experienced no small degree of curiosity to learn wherefore Madge was so anxious to find ons this Thompeon of whom she had spoken. Bidding his wife attend to the bar, he passed into the room behind, with two glasses of hot apirite-and-water; and placing them upon the table, seated himself opposite to Madge Somers. ‘¢Come,” said he, “ you won’t refuse to drink, for old acquaintance’ sake. Here’s a health to you, and wishing that the business you've been a epeak- ing of may tufn out all right.” “TI hope it will,” she remarked abruptly. “What news in Agar Town? Anything fresh ?” “Nothing partikler,” responded Solomon. “But about this little business of your’n, Madge—can I be of any assistance? O€ course you must know summut more about the man Thompson than you've chose to say.” “Nothing,” she obeerved : then in order to change the conversation, she asked, “ Have you seen Chifim lately P” “Well, yes—I have,” answered Solomon: and he seemed to speak with some little degree of hesita- tion. “Is anything the matter with him?” asked Madge, looking at the old man fixedly: “anything turned up about that barge affair ?” “ No—it all seems to have died away as comfort- able as possible. But here he be:”—and as he spoke, the Cannibal, dressed in his usual style, entered the bar-parlour. ‘Hullo, Madge!” he exclaimed: “who weuld have thought of seeing you here? Why, I've been up to your cottage yonder two or three times during the last week; and it was all shut up and as silent as a grave.” **Did you want ma, then P” she asked. “Well, I did rather. Just step along with ma Here, Sol, bring us up some liquor into the private room: for me and Madge have got some particular business to talk about.” “Ah! akout them preparations that you've beer. making, I suppose,” ssid the old man, with a aly look, full of dark and sinister meaning. “ Well, it may be,” growled the Cannibal: “but don’t you let your tongue run quite so free—’cos why, how did you know I was going to speak to Madge on that subject ? and if I wasn’t, then you would have made her suspect something.” “Oh! I only meant that if you are going to let her into the secret,” replied Solomon, “I am glad of it: for she’s a discreet woman, and you can trust- her. Besides, as I won’t do it myself—” “Now hold your jaw, you cursed old feol,” inter- posed Chiffin, his diabolical countenance contracting with an expression of hideous ferocity, while he grasped his club as if about to strike. ‘As you gel old you become so precious talkative there's no doing COMMUC DOO CS (COL