The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

24 was heaped up in one corner; and raising a trap- door, she commenced the descent of a flight of steps, bidding the commercial traveller to follow her Hie obeyed; but at this instant it struck bim that should the Magsman his treacherous pur- pose and seek to do him a mischief, how could he pussibly summon the Bow Street Officers to his assistance?—how were they to learn whither he had been conducted ? Again did a cold tremor come over him: but ex- periencing a full cense of the necessity of maintain- ing his presence of mind, he suinmoned all his courage to his ald, and followed the woman with a Grm step. At the bottom of the stairs she throw open a door; and in another moment the commercial tra- veller was introduced into the presence of Joe the Magsinat. . This redoubtable individual was sented in a small chamber, furnished in a far more comfortable style than the other portions of the house which Page had as yet seen; and the bed, which stood in an alcove, or deep recess, was clean and neat in ap- pearance. The walls were papered: there was a thick curtain over the small window ;—and a piece of carpet was stretched upon the floor. The Magsman was about forty years of ege,—very tall— powerfully buit—apd remarkably broad across ‘he shoulders, But his countenance was precisely that which a novelist would describe or an artist depict ar belonging to a villain of the most desperate character. His coal-biack hair was rongh and coarse: his brows were thick and lung, overhanging smal] and restless eyes ;—and his bushy whiskers en- croached on his face even to the cheek bones. He was dressed in a shabby and negligent manner; and when Page was introduced by the Gallows’ Widow into his presence, ln was lounging in an arm-chair sinoking a pipe. “Ah! my fine fellow,” he exclaimed, the moment the commercial traveller stood before him : )* I needn't ask who you are—for I had a pretty goo:l ‘glimpee of your face last night in the lane. Sit down, my hoy —and let us know what has brought you here. Lizzy my dear,” he added, turning towards the Gallows’ Widow, “put the bingo out upon the table.” The woman produced a bottle of brandy and some glasses froin a cupboard, and then took a seat ucar her paramour. “T suppose it's all right about the pocket-book ?” said the Magsman. “'Yes—and here is the money,” returned the Gal- lows’ Widow, handing the ruffian the bag of gold which he tossed upon the bed. “This gentleman wishes some particular business to be done—and that is why I brought him. The Begyarman heard his story; and we agreed that he might be introduced to you without farther dclay.” “And what is the nature of the business?” do- manded the man. Tage forthwith repeated the same tale which he had already narrated iv the parlour below; and the cobber listened attentively. “Well—what do you think of this, Lizzy?” he said, turning towards his mistress, when Page had done speaking. “I think that it is all straightforward enough; or else 1 should not have brought him up here,” was = - = Vee oma lee ee, ee ERE? | SED ' RE wWIstReks. 7° eee Cee eee the answer. “J n,ust however oheerve thet I did entertain certain suspicions before we entered the house; for, according to my usual custom whem bringing a stranger here, I stopped and made this gentleman stop also in a dark place just to ascertaiz whether any body in the ahape of an officer was dog- ging us. Three men passed by, one after another, and at short intervals; but it was too dark to form em idea what they were. They however all three turned into Horslydown: and I confess that I didn’t like it. But it might have been a false alarm on my part; and the conduct of this geutleman has since made me think it was.” While the Gallows’ Widow was spesking, the Magsman’s eyes were fixed not exactly suspiciously —but searchingly—upon the commercial travelier, who sustained this steadfast, scrutinizing gaze with- out wincing. The Magsman seemed satisfied; and Mr. Page, perceiving that the result was in his favour, felt nore at ease, “And how do you propose to carry this business into execution ?” demanded the robber, after sipping his brandy-and-water in a leisurely way. “ Hodson and Morley's place of business is in Wood Street, as you know already,” answered Paze, “ and Ho-lson lives on the premises.” “ [low many men are there in the house as night interrupted the thicf. “Three,” was the response: “ Hodson—a inaii- servant—and the porter, who sleeps in the kitchen, s bed being made up for him on purpose.” “ And of course he has firc-arms within reach ? “Not that I know of. But there’s a watchuvan in the street all night: heis paid by the inhabitanta” “ And therefore he walks up and down,” observed the Magsman ;: “so that while he’s at one part of the street, we can be commencing operations in at- other.” “ Exactly so,” answered Page. “The tash-bex is kept in an iron safe let into the wall in the counting- house, which isin the back ware-room ; and there wih be some trouble in picking the lock of that safe.” “Teave the matter to me,” said the Magsman, ip a tone of confidence. “D'ye think ['ll have much troable in opening it, Lizzy—eh ?” he demanded, turning with a chuckle towards hia mistress. “ Not inuch, Joe,” sho replied, lanzhinyg in a low quiet manner which did Paye harm to hear it: for he fancied that a wornan who could laugh in that strango way, was capable of any atrocity—there was something so unnatural in it! “Where vacht the entrance {nto the house to be atfomyted?” demanded the Mazgsman, after a brief use. - That is the difficulty ” excluimed the commer- cial travoller, assuming a tone of vexation. “ The front-door is precious strong and well chained and bolted; and the shutters ww the warchouse-window aro not a very insignificant barrier. If there was much noise male, the purter would be sure to wake up dowo- stairs.” “And there’s no means of getting in at the back ?° asked the robber. “ None that I know of,” replied Page, purposely avoiding the creauuun of a suspicion by repre- senting the business as one tl-at had few difficulties in the way. “Woll—it must be attempted tn front, then,® geal) the Magsman. "We must mstiagzoe to get Gown CORNICE OOO (G ‘SS CO