The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

_ esying in her habitually curt mannex, “ “No, Mr. Guntborpe, I will not take it. And now begone, both of you—begene, I say! But once more be- ware how you breathe s single word of aught that hae taken place bere to-night. Begone!”—end she extended her arm ia a commanding manner towards the outer door. “But my good woman,” ssid William Deveril, ‘*we cannot leave you thus. You have saved our lives—you must accept « reward.” “No— more than what I have taken :”— and she displayed the piece of gold. “ Why should you throw temptation in my way?” she demanded, almost fiercely. “ Do you know what I should do if I were possessed of that money ? I should speed with it to the gambling-table——Ah! you may both look startled, and abocked, and astonished— it is the truth! And were I to hasten thither, I should be neglecting a duty which I owe to you, William Deveril. And now, not another word— depart - begone |” Lord Eagiedean and our young hero, astonished at what they likewe at the heard—astonished singular character end conduct of this ungecount- able woman, hesitated no longer to obey her; but issued from the room. The stairease was quite dark—but they groped their way down it; and the moment they appeared in front of the bar, both Solomon Patch and his wife were saised with a ghastly terror. liam Deveril tarried to speak a word: they merely threw a look of mingled indignation end loathing upon the two wretches, and issued from that den of infamy and horror. The moment they had disappeared from the view of Solomon Patch and his wife, these two exchanged deeply significant looks, in which suspense, ean- sternation, and bewilderment were all blended. Then the man in a hurried whisper bade hie wile eompose her looks and go on serving the eus- tomers, while he sped up-ataim to leasn what had taken place: for neither he nor Mra. Pateh could possibly conceive by what means the two visiters had come off in safety. Had the plot failed? were they gone to give information to the authorities? or had Chiffin concluded a better money-bargem than that which had originally instigated him to the concoction of the snare f Speeding up the staircase, three stepe at a time, Solomon Patch found Madge Somers bending over the open trap-deor. But where wesChifin? The look which the old landlord flang hastily around, encountered not the form of the Cannibal. “Ah! is that you?” said Madge. “Yes. But where ia Chifiin?” “There !"-—and she pointed down inte the pit. “ Yee—there !” she answered coldly. “ Chiffin was caught in his ows trap. It gave way as he was over it.” “Ah!” cried Solomon, not for an instant doubting the trath of this explanation, which indeed eppeared go rational and so feasible. “ He is done for,” said Madge, still bending over the abyes. “Thare is nota splash in the water— there is not a movement—there is not the slightest THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ Well,” mused Solomon Patch, in an audible tene—though not exactly intending to address his obecrvations to Madge Sumers,—“ I don’t know, arter ell, that it’s euch avery bad john. Chiffia was getting a regular devil: he had got us all under his thumb—wo didn’t dare my as hew our souls was ow of the question; cos why he knowed too much of us for us to tell what we knowed of him. So, arter all, perbape it’s for the best. It’s a hill vind thes blows no goed to nobody.” “You are not altogether wrong, Gal,” replied Madge Somers, well pleased in her heart to find thas the old landlesd took the oocurrenes m this philosophic light. “ Bat 1 say, we had better pall this trap up; and then is would be as well just to but | go and cover the mouth of the well with the big stones, for fear of an. accident happening to amybody else.” “Yeon, yoo—have it all your own way, Madge,” ejneulated Solemon. “ Bat them two genel- men——" “You have nothing to fear. I pitched them a beautifal tale, that has made them quite coméfort- able. Hold yeur tongue about what has taken place—-and don’t for the werld let any of the pals know what has happened to Chifin. In a few days, wheo they miss him, you ean say that he’s wanted on aceount of that affair in the barge, and that Neither the Marquis nor Wil- he’s kesping himeelf searce.” “ Allright, Madge,” rejoined Solomon, feem whose “There's a bit of atring to lft it,” ssid Madge; “and the bolt will hold it fast. Bus % won't do te walk over #4,” ahe continued, by way of giving a in i . Bhe table, and deseended the stairs, accompanied by Solomon Pateh. They passed } the scullery rmto together, closing the door behind them; and there, bending over the brink of the well, Madge listened once more with . All still!” she said to the landlord. the depth of that well ?” “ About twenty feet,” he replied. “ And the depth of the water P” “* When Chiffin measured it with plummet and cord t’other day, there was about six feet of water.” ‘ Ah! then he was drowned in no time,” observed Madge: and placing the candle upon the ground, she said, “ Now let’s pat some of these big stone over the mouth.” Solomon Patch aided her in the task, which was soon accomplished ; and the opening was completely owe. etruggic. Nor was there from the very | closed by the flags which they placed upon it. “ Now, the best thing you cam do,” said Madge . | (COL (C DOO CS (COL