The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 199: what you’re looking at

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186 although the chandler might have been alone in that room. he assuredly was not alone in the house pre- vious to his (the officer’s) arrival. «TI want to speak to you upon a very particular and important matter,” said Larry, in a low and con- fidential tone,—* a matter which, if you can serve me in it, will put a hundred guineas into your pocket.” Taggarty instantaneously thought within himself that Sampson wanted him to betray Daniel Coffin into his hands: and his mind was at once made up not to have anything to do with an affair that would inevitably bring all the Hangman’s confederates and accomplices, from every part of London, like a hor- net’s nest, about his ears. He accordingly said, “ If it’s any dirty work, Mr. Sampson. I shan’t do it.” “I do not think you will look upon it as dirty work “i. 3h,” “aponded the officer, still speaking in a low and guarded .vwue. “ But tell me frankly whether we can converse in this room without the chance of being overheard.” | “ Well, there's a young o’oman of my acquaintance up-stairs, doing out the bed-chamber,” answered Taggarty: “‘and if she listens, she may overhear us.” “Then will you step round with me to the nearest public-house %” asked Sampson. “The truth is I am expecting a friend or two,” replied the ohandler; “and I can’t very well leave. But just say in-e whisper what the business is about.” “It is relative to a lad ealled Jack the Foundling,” sejoined the officer, locking Taggarty very hard in e face. “ And what about himf”’ asked the latter, eagerly. “That is just the questicn whieh I am going to put to you,” said Larry. “New, I want to ascer- tain all the particulars I can possibly glean concern- ing the infancy of that lad; and if you will assist me, there are a hundred guineas in my pocket at your service.” “ A hundred guineas?” repeated Taggarty, his eyes brightening: “I must sell a great many pen’norths of tea and slices of cheese to serape that sum toge- ther! Weil, sir, what is it you wish to know f” he asked in a very subdued voice. “J am already aware,” responded Larry, “that a great mystery envelopes the birth of the lad. He was either found or stolen; and it was a boy called James Melmoth who took him, when a babe, to the den in Grub Street, whence you have derived your nickname of the Kinchin-Grand. I also know that the present Richard and Sarah Melmoth, who have been living with the deceased Daniel Coffin, are the brother and sister of that James Melmoth of whom I have spoken, but who has long been dead. I am moreover aware that your late mistress, Shickster Sal, brought up the Foundling.” “ Then, if you know all this, Mr. Sampson,” said T » “what more can you expect to glean fram me f”—and the chandler now felt easier in his mind, because he saw, from an obeervation just made by Larry, that he really supposed the Hangman to have been drowned, and that consequently his visit to Mutton Hill at such a moment was purely an acci- dental coincidence. “I expect to glean from you any additional in- formation which you may be enabled to impart,” said Sampson. “In the first place, endeavour to recollect the precise date on which the babe was brought to the-Kinchin-Ken in Grub Street.” ™~ THE MYSTERIES OF THE OCOURF. “It was the Ist of June, 1795," answered Tag- garty. “ How do you recollect the date so well?” inquired Larry Sampson. _ “Because I remember that it was the day before James Melmoth’s father murdered Sir Richard Stam- ford in Windsor Park, and then blew out his own brains,” was Taggarty’s response. “It was not known for some time aftewards that the assassin of the baronet was the same wretched man whose previous enormities had so horrified the metropolis.” “ But I knew it was the same man,” observed Tag- garty, in a scarcely audible whisper; “ because his son, young James, told me so at the time. After- wards I mentioned the circumstance to my pals—it got talked about—and this was the way the public at length knew that James Melmoth, senior, was the assassin of Sir Richard Stamford.’’ “ Now, was not the babe stolen by that man and his son James {" asked Sampson. “He was,” replied Taggarty. ‘ I don’t eee any harm in telling you the rea! truth now.” “Certainly not. And it was in Hyde Park that the babe was thus stolen ?” “It was. But you seem to know all about it,” said the chandler, in surprise. “Yet I do not see how you can possibly have learnt this: for I have wever divulged the secret until now. Neither Dick por Sel Melmoth knew so much about the business. They were children at the time it happened; but their eldest brother James made me his confidant to a certain extent.” “Did he tell you whose child it wast” asked Sampson. “No. He had sworn a most solemn oath to his father not te reveal the secret of the child’s parent- age until it was at least twelve years of age.” “ Do you know why the Melmoths stole the child demanded Larry. “ Because they had some dreadful spite against its parents, I believe. But you are perhaps aware that young James Melmoth died a violent death within a few days after his father’s suicide: and thus in the interval he had not much leisure to be over- communicate with me” “Is this all you know?” inquired Larry Samp- eon; then, seeing that Taggarty hesitated, he pro- duced a beg of gold and counted down a handred guineas upon the table, saying, “ If you can give me any farther proofs relative to the circumstances of which we have been speaking, this sum is yours.” “Stop a moment,” observed Taggarty. “If the Foundling should turn out to be the son of wealthy or great folks, how do I know but what I shali get iato trouble for having been a sort of accessory to the harbouring of him after he was stalen ft “T will give you a written guarantee that no harm shall befall you,” replied Sampson. “Your word will do, sir,” rejoined the chandles @ And now I will fetch you the only proofs that I can put into your hands—but they wil] no doubt be found convincing enough.” Having thus spoken, Taggarty rose and ascended the staircase, shutting the door carefally behind him. On entering the bed-room up-stairs, he found the Hangman, Dick Melmoth, and Sally, engaged in earnest conversation together upon their future plans and proceedings under existing circumstances: but they were all astounded and alarmed when the COMME MOO CO