The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

See Oe eee eee bal Se ee oe oe oe ee Re a cy 132 ree Qe eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURE. ening oneself at what is past. Having got mfe on firm ground, I went to a friend's house hare by— ' cleaned myself—borrowed fresh apparel! of him— . and sent him out in the interval to ascertain, if ' possible, what had become of the young lady. He speedily returned with the pleasing intelligence that some men engaged at a wharf had taken her under their protection and no doubt conducted her to a place of safety. In fact, he happened to make his inquiries at the very wharf where the comrades of those men were engaged. I then went home—got some breakfast—changed my attire again—and set off into the City, with the determination of visiting the Hangman’s shop: for he is a barber, my lord.” “ And what did you go thither for?” inquired the nobleman. “To ascertain whether the ruffians had found out at Jacob‘s Island who the knife-grinder really was, responded Larry Sampson: “for I knew not what had taken place while I was remaining sense- less through the effects of the fall outside the _ window. It was accordingly about nine o'clock on Thursday morning when I entered Mr. Daniel Coffin’s shop; and I immediately saw by his man- | Rér that so far from suspecting me in any way, he -a was dreadfully afraid I suspected him. ‘So,’ thought I, ‘itis all right ; and the villains did not discover Larry Sampson in the disguise of the knife-grinder. *—Thus satisfied on that point, I went into the shop and sate down to be shaved, thinking that if I got the fellow into conversation some- thing might turn up of use to me. In fact, my lord, I never suffer an opportunity of that kind to escape me; and it is strange how the most trivial incidents lead to the most important results in pursuing my avocations at times. So it was in this case. One of Coffin’s apprentices—or rather, a lad who was living with him—struck me as being a youth whom I might model to my purposes: and after some discourse, I invited him home with me. But while left alone in the shop for a minute I picked up a bit of paper which had writing on it; and instantaneously perceiving that it was a part of a letter referring to the very business which I had in hand—namely, the sifting of the . affair of Monday night—I put it into my pocket. —_ Se ces em eee ee Ppwse"s Pa Here it ts—and I will read it to your lordship,” Larry Sampson accordingly produced the scrap of paper, and read the following lines :— ‘* Paris, September 6th, 1814. * Since you have got a sufficient number of men to do the thing, it may as well be done without delay. But re- member that no one besides yourself is to know the real object of the business: let your confederates believe that its motive is purely one of extortion or plunder. You say that the Prince invariably visits Richmond once or twice a week, and that one of these visits wil} furnish the best epportanity. Be it so. But be sure that you can rely upon the footman of whoin you speak. He shalf have the twenty guincas—half paid beforehand, and the other half when the thing isdone. Mind and take your measures as securely and secretly as possible. I shall be over in London for certain, with my wife, on the 10th, Meantime a a Se eee eee. The house = @ s The fragment of the letter contained no more; and Larry Sampson, consigning it back again to his waistcoat pocket, proceeded with his narrative in the fullowing manner :— with me, and began by regaling him in the hand- somest style possible with my means and humble household. There is nothing like giving an Eng- lishman plenty of good eating and drinking im order to open his heart. An Englishman after a good meal is quite a different being from an Eng- lishman before one. Nor did Jack the Foundling —such is the youth’s name—prove an exception to the rule. I insinuated myself into his confidence —held out hopes and promises to him—and gra- dually brought his ideas and reflections round into the channel that suited my purposes. Not but that I intend to fulfil all the promises I did make the unfortunate youth ; and I shall render him ser- viceable in uprooting the infamous gang whose head-quarters are in Jacob’s Island. Yesterday morning, my lord, 1 had a long and serious con- versation with the Foundling; and I succeeded in wheedling out of him the secret that the house to which the Prince Regent and your lordship was taken on Monslay night was Beechey Manor at Wandsworth.” “ Beechey Manor !” echoed Lord Leveson, start- ing with amazement. “What? is it possible that the General———" “He very likely had nothing to do with the out- rage, my lord,” interrupted Larry Sampeon. “In- deed, it is most probable that he little knew the purpose for which he was lending his house to cer- tain people——” “I believe he is on the continent,” cried the Marquis ;—“ run away for debt, I fancy?” “ Just so, my lord,” returned Larry. “ Well having thus got at a knowledge of the place to which his Royal Highness and your lordship were taken so mysteriously, it was comparatively plain sailing ia carrying out the investigation. The next thing to be done was to go to the Manor— inquire who were there—and endeavour to obtain an interview with the occupants, if they were still on the premises, It was also desirable, if possible, to procure some means of identifying the hand- writing of the scrap of paper with that of any party whom I might chance to find at the Manor. Well, my lord, I forthwith assumed another dis- guise: and this time it was a postman’s. Away I sped to the vicinage of Wandsworth, and soon as- certained that a gentleman and lady calling them- selves Bradshaw, had been staying about a week at the Manor and were still there. I learnt also that the lady was young and beautiful, and seldom went out: and I likewise discovered that they had been in Franoe. Convinced that I was upon the right scent, I continued my way to the Manor. There was the gateway into which the carriage was introduced, as your lordship described, last Monday night: there also was the side door! After some parley with an old domestic, I was in- troduced into the presence of a beautiful lady seated in an elegant drawing-room. This apart- ment was furnished just as the Prince described it to you, and as your lordship represented it in turn to me. It must have been the hall which was hung with the black cloth, and into which you were in- troduced on arriving at the Manor on the night in question. Well, ny lord, the lady corresponded with the description— light brown hair, dark eyes, and a superb shape.” “Is she so wondrously handsome?” inquired “ Well, my lord, I took Coffin’s apprentice home | the Marquis eagerly. ——_— ee ee eee eee i ow ele a te ET” eqey meen ee =a ———_— ae ee age ay aE: a = Creer ElLOOO | : Ss