The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

* Tt 90 of the gteatest consequence that I shoulf ot- tafn an interview with him as soon as » = He is not here—neither is the Gallows’ Witon, which is his blowen,” answeted the Big They're gone over into Wapping together, and won't be back again to-night.” * Perdition!” ejaculated Ramsey, in a tone of profound vexafion, “Every minute’s delay & tdinous!” “ Now don’t excite yourself, sir,” said Carrotty Pol), in a sootaing voice. “We can guess pretty well what it is that’s annoying yoo——” “ Sir Richard Stamford is at liberty!” exclaimed sey, interrupting the young woman impatiently, and striking the table with his clenched fist. ®'We know it,” observed the ® is not our fault: he escaped!” * You are not deceiving me?” cried Ramsey, in a tone of mingled excitement and menace. “ Howcan you prove to me that he did indeed escape—and that neither you nor Joseph Warren, nor any of your associates, connived at his flight 7” @ Well—it may be a difficult matter for me to convince you, Mr. y,” returned the villain: “but if you was t’other side of the river at this mo- ment, I could take you to the place where the baro- net was confined, and show you the hole that he made in the wall of the cellar.” « I am inclined to believe you—I do believe you,” said Ramsey. “In fact, if I had really treachery on your part I should not have come hither this evening. Mt. Martin etsetred me that the ut- most reliance was to be placed upon Warren—and he urged‘me te come to London and ees him without delay.” “Bat how did you learn that the baronet had excaped?” demanded the Beggarman: “for the Mageman only wrote this evening to let you know what hed happened—and the letter won't reach Aylesbury till to-morrow moming. He was ia hopes of being able to diseover Sir Richard again, emul tule hist back to his old quarters: and that's the reason why he diin’t sahd yon immediate mteliigence of his flight.” “ Lest evening Mr. Martin received the most in the neighibourhodd of Aylesbary,” sald Philip @ricken with dianhy. In fact, it will beraim to beth Martin and myself—positive ruin,” added the young mem, with frightfal emphasis, “if the berenet is alHowe to remain many more hours at lexge. What is to be done t” “ What would you wish te be come asked ne Beggareen< “and when you have us, will yeu pay for having it done f” . “You are dispesed to assist us—te any extent— @o any emtreme f° said Ramsey, duking his voice te a low , Which was nevertheless fall of rmcan- * But whisper i of ing: end he tewt his leoks with kindred significaney upon the villain whom he thus addressed. “Ect ws understand ench other, Mr. Ramsey,” il} ownselves, He wotildn’t sign the paper which yoo and Mr. Martin hed drawh upand that was nd fault of ourn nether. But we should have kept him fn the cellar till he did: and if hed heli ont much longer, we meant to have starved him into compliance. Now, then, you perceive thet we did our dooty towards you and yout ub well = We Wak able: and we don’t ste that anythink fresh or new which you may want us to have done or to do for you, should be executed fiee gratis for no- “ Your observations are perfeotly just and reasoning fs correct,” said Ramsey. “ We poet i pared i bey you well for what you mttt do nexi.* - at case, we shan’, have no quarrels,” re- marked the Big an. “ But how go on mat- ters at Aylesbury? We saw by yesterday morn- ing’s paper that Lady Stamford was not dead—thas she was not even mortally wounded—and that the Coroner’s Inquest was held to examine into the cause of the fire, and not the death of the lady, as was at fust ad * ¥¢ fs all these citcamstances which remier ft ve necessary that Str Richard Stamford should either be got ont of the way—or else pif cnt ofthe way,” returned Ramsey, again fixing a look of dark and stnister meaning upon the countenance of the Beggarman. “The Coroner’s Inquest has de- cided,” he continued, “ that the fire was the result of actident—caused bya candle being upset on the supper-table. Thus, tlre charge of arson no longer presses against Sir Richard Stamford. Then, again, a surgical opinion declares that the wound was inflicted on Lady Stamford with her own hand: and therefore the accusation of murder is likewise quashed.” “ But the forgeries, Mr. Ramsey—the forgeries ?* exclaimed the Begyarman. “Perhaps the tess we say on that subject, the better,” was the reply, delivered in a sombre and gloonry ‘tone. “But ft ts useless to remain hero, idly conversing on these matters,” he continued, his Bune suddenty beeoming impatient and excited “Sir Richard Stamford is in the neighbourhood of —we know where he is contealing him- he doubtless waits W ascertain how it A self, white may tern ont with his wife, ere he takes any actual | “and, a6 YOu may suppose, we were | P _ receedings ——— | © Aird that lady—4s ubte senstbie P-—can she speak, So a8 to give any avevert of matters Wat tray tel | wxainet you gir?” tiquired Oarretey Poll: “for the Mageman informed us that you was pretty intimate with het,” sho added, with a chwekfing laugh. “She fs stl hovering between We and death,” euswered Ramsey, ecarcely able to conceal his disgust at the grossness of the woman’s manser, “ Bat again I say, do not waste time in asking me questions : assist me, if you wil,” he continued, a4- dressing timwelf to the Diy Begyarmna ; -“ and tf net, I must adopt offer means to ensure my “FT hawe net retuned to aeit you” replied the barby, red-fiesd villain dogyedly f * but you Haven’, gtven me fo instfactions.” “ ¥oa we édil at comprehunding « hint,” sald : Ramsey, with an impatient uneasiness and resflegp.. ; meoes which indicated that he had already planned a a terrible deed, but shrank ftom avowing his “{reanember you ctetved jms now that the COMM ELOOO co =