The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ri mothing with you. How do you know that what's eaid in here, if spoke too loud, isn’t heard by the people at the bar f” “I didn’t mean no offence, Mr. Chiffin,” said the | ald man, trembling from head to foot: for he stood fearfully in awe of the dreaded Cannibal. “Weill then, look ring us up some. brandy—and lend us this light.” Thus speaking, Chiffin took up the candle from the table, and led the way from the bar, followed by Madge Somers. He ascended to that miserable- looking rqom up-stairs which has been before de- acribed in earlier chapters of this narrative; and placing the candle upon the table, he said, “ Let us sit down, Madge: we've got some business to talk ebout. Bat wait a bit till old Sulomou has brought up the lush and the giasees; and then we shall be all to ourselves.” Madge Somers made no remark; but with her usual imperturbability sat down, patiently awaiting the promised explanations. While casually casting her eyes round the small and cheerless-looking room, she suddenly observed that a door had been pierced on one side. “I see that Solomon has been making some al- terations in his house,” she said to the Cannibal. “Ah! you mean that door,” he remarked, with a smile of grim and sinister meaning which did not escape the woman’s notice. “You know where it leade to P” “It must lead into Solomon’s own bed-chamber,”’ said Madge, after a moment's reflection, during which she passed m review the precise arrangements of the house and the distribution of the reoms, with all of which she was well acquainted. ‘To be sure! -——that door on the landing leads into Solomon’s chamber: but what has made him have another door made, communitating from this room?” - “Tl tell you all about it presently,” returned Chifin, with another peruliar smile, which was about as pleasing as the grin of some horrible monster At this moment Solomon made his appearance with the liquor that had been ordered; and as he placed the tray upon the table, he threw a signifi- eant lvok at that new door which had been made— then bent his eyes upon Chiffin—next on Madge— and then retreated from the room, closing the outer door behind him. “Now, perhaps,” said Madge Somers, “ you will begin your explanations, and tell me what you want with me: because I can assure you my time is fully eceupied.” “Then I suppose you've got plenty of business on hand ?” said Chiffin, mixing himeelf a tumbler of brandy-and-water. “Yes—you know full well that I am seldom idle. But you seem busyalso. By the bye, I thoaght the Jact time I saw you, Chiffin, you intended to take a public-house or settle down in some fashion or another. Don’t you remember when and where it wae? That night, on the bank of tho canal——-” “I recollect all about it,” interrupted the Can- mibal savagely, as if he did not over and above like the particular allusion thus made. “It was when you eame to bring me the news that Lady Saxondale didn’t mean to let the detectives go un against me and Tony Wilkins. Of course you guessed very well who | it was that did the business for that scoun- oe een ae ir «a — — (ear ee ol ee SS) wm ee —— oe eos es —_— —_ drel Tugs and his wife——they meant to do for me and get all my money: but I'm blowed if I didn’t | do foe them!” “ It served them right,” remarked Madge coolly. “But what business have you in hand P” | “ that will put a decent sum into my pocket,” answered Chiffin; “and then with what I have got already, I shall be ready to retire from business altogether,” he added with a chuckling. laugh; “and instead of taking boosing-kens or lodging-houses, or anything of that sort, I shall settle down asa genelman and live on my meaus. But as you have let me intoa many good things with you, I'll let you into this with me—leastways, I want some one to help in doing a certain thing; and as old Solomon won’t have anything to do with it himeelf, I thought of you. So I have been up to your place two or three times, but eouldn’t find you-——” “Well, never mind,” interrupted Madge: “ have found me at last. Here I am—and now oe your explanations. What do you want me for? and “ae can [ get by helping you?” ” responded the Cannibal; “and only for a few minates’ work.” “Well, proceed. My time is occupied: but still I can spare enough for your purpose, particularly if it is to be well paid.” The Cannibal drew his seat a little closer to that where Madge was placed; and having drained his tumbler, and mixed himself another jorum of hot brandy-and-water, he addressed her in the following manner :— “ Tam not going to mention any names, ‘cause why it isn’s necessary. But you must know that there's a certain party who wants two other parties put out of the way. It’s two genelmen whose disappear- ance I have got to bring about. The hint buw to do it was given me by the lady—for it is a lady— and I don’t mind saying this much—who is employ- ing me. She doesn’t want these two genelmen to have their throats cut and their bodies found any where above ground, which would only cause an immense sonsation, as the newspapers say, and lead to no end of inquiries. But what she wants is for these two genelmen to slip out of the world just as easy as if the earth opened and swallowed them up —eo that there sha’n’t remain the least clue to show where they have gone. Their friends and relations may they have ran away, or anything they like: but that’s no business of mine. It’s enough for me to know that if these two genelmen dis appear all snug and comfortable, with no chance of never turning up no more, I shall get two——I mean a decentish sum, ont of which I can afford to pay you fifty for helping me.” “Go on,” said Madge, imperturbebly. listening.” “Well, you see,” proceeded Chiffin, “I sha’n’t be at any loss to entice those two genelmen here; be- cause I know how to do it, and have got an excuse ready. And what's more too, I have got the arrange- ments all made, settled, and done, to send them out of existence much nicer and easier than if they was let down on the drop at the Old Bailey: ‘cause why, kere there won’t be no ropes round their necks to break their fall and hold ‘em up tight.” “Go on,” said Madge again, her countenance now exhibiting some degree of interest. meme em we meer ee COLL (C DOO CS (GO)