The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

were served up with no niggard hand. The noble. man, taking off his cloak and appearing in a hand. around, standing at. the door of a small but neat cottage on the threshold of which an old man and woman were Big Beggarman forthwith conducted by the old couple, who were dressed like peasants in comfortable into a neat room serving alike as kitchen and per- lour; and their eyes were not only gladdened by the appearance of a cheerful log-fire blazing on the ample. hearth, bat also by the preparations that were in progress for a comfortable breakfast A clock, which stood in a cozner of the room, showed then that it was now nine o'clock on this memo- The nobleman and lady remained outside in ion of which period they entered the cottage. By this time the coffee was made by the old woman ; and the lady, having hastily partaken of a cup, but without removing her mask, ahook hands with the fobleman and returned to the carriage which in- etantancously drove away. . The unknown employer of the Magsman and the Big Beggerman now thrust another five-hundred pound note into the hands of each, whispering at the same time, “ You are to remain here until the of a lees serious natare than the former,’ he ob- eerved significantly, “will be required at your hands. I may es well state that it will be useless for you to put any questions to these good people,” he added, turning his masked countenance for a moment towards the old man and woman ;—“ inas- without my permission, all the rest of our bargain becomes annulled in an instant and you forfeit the balance of the reward. Now do we un- derstand each other ?” “Sit down, then,” said the nobleman, * and par cake of the breakfast which is now served up.” ‘The men to whom this invitation was a aes psre--usunsavesapenesnsge NOOO) | a while the nobleman partook of his dinner side-table. ' Bat even if this personage had not wished te table with them. No—that insufferable which animates the English aristocracy would have made him loathe and abhor the idea of associatiag so intimately with men belonging to a lower grada for not even the companionship of crimse—the com. plicity of murder,—no—not even this hideous con- nexion could have induced him to fraternise with the paid instruments of his dark iniquity. - The meal being concluded, pipes and tobacco were supplied to the Magsman and his companion, who addressed themselves to the enjoyment thereof accordingly; and the nobleman retired up-steiss, most probably to snatch a few hours rest. As ail events he did not re-appear until tea was prepared at about seven o’clock,—Joe Warren and the Beg- garman having in the interval smoked countless pipes and emptied numerous jogs of ale. ‘After tea the two men resumed their pipes: but instead of malt liquor they were now regaled with gin—and by the assistance of the tobacco and the spirits they whiled away the time pleasantly enough until ten o’clock, when an excellent was eet before them. Of this meal the nobleman refused to partake: but Joe Warren and the Big Beggar- man did ample justice to it—for, as they laugitingly observed to the people of the house, “eating and drinking never came amiss to them.” At eleven o'clock the nobleman resumed his cloak, beneath which he concealed a dark lantern lent him by the old man, who likewise produced @ shovel, a pick-axe, and a bag containing some smaller implements. Of these things the Magamen and the Big Beggarman took charge; and, guided by their unknown employer, they sallied forth from the cottage. The moon shone brightly, illaminating the whole scene around and bringing the fvy-covered tower of the village church into strong relief. And it was towards this church that the nobleman led kis two agents of evil across the fields—a journey which was performed in silence and without mest- ing a single soul. ©) CO COLT