The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 331: what you’re looking at

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

20 THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Now, in plain terms did you not receive a letter | “ Weil, sir, he’s a genelman which frequents this the day before yesterday, posted at Gainsborough, | house, and is a wery good custumer of mine. Bust and addressed to you in just these words—Ar.|to tell you the truth, he wuuld prove rather e Solomon Patch, the Billy Goat, Agar Tuwn, St.' orkard kind of customer if I was to break open his Pancras, London l letters. He hasn’t been here for a week or ten days “Well, I did have such a letter,” answered the . past; and I don’t know what's become of him.” landlord. | At this moment Mrs. Patch opened the door of “ And now, to come to the point at once, will you | the bar-parlour, and whispered something in her The old man hesitated for nearly a minute; and again, closing the door behind her. then he said, “ Befors we go any farther, sir, I thiuk! “Now this is fortunate,” observed Solomon. I ought to know who you and this young gentle- | “Mr. Chiffin, the wery highly respectable genelman man be——” which this note is addressed to, has just gune into “Very well: you shall have that information. | the tap-room. If you like to neguiuste with him, Hore is my card. William, produce your's.” I'll introduce him.” Deveril did as he was desired; and Solomon,;| “By all means,” replied Mr. Gunthorpe. having looked at them both, fixed his eyes onour| “Just let me put this letter back again into my hero, observing, “Ab, sir—I have seen your name pocket-book,” said Patch; “and you needu’t say a in the newspaper abuut some duel-business. I hope word about the little matter of fity pounds— you've got over your wound ?” | ’oos why, Mr. Chiffin’s rather an eccentric character, “You seo that I am not suffering very muco from and he might take it intc his head tu cry halves.” it at present,” replied Deverill. “And now that; “Never fear,” said Mr. Gunthorpe. “Go and you know who we are, I think that you need not bring the person in.” hesitate to comply with our wishes.” | “Oh, you will find him a wery nice agreeable “T don’t mind showing you what i received from genelman, and easy to du business with, when there's Gainsborough two or three days ago,’ observed moncy in the matter.” Pateh: “ 1f 80 be you promises as how that you| Having thus spuken in exalted eulogy of his won't break open t’other thing what's insile.” friend, Sulomon Patch issued from the bar-pariour ; “Very good. Here are the fifty pounds,” said and asthe door clued behjad him, Mr. Guuthorpe Mr. Gunthorpe; “and you may produce your let-, said to Doveril, “Depend upon it we shall succeed Gold will do anything with such characters as Solomon Patch drew forth an old greasy pocket- these. But I confess 1 am rather curious to see book; and from the midst of some papers he pro- . this Mr. Chiffin who is in correspondunce with the duced a letter, which Deveril at once recognised, | brilliant and splendid Lady Suxondale:"—end the by the bloteh of ink as well as by the handwriting, | old gentleman uttered these last words with a sneer. to be the one he had seen at the post-office at Gains-| In a few minutes Sulomon Patch returned to the borough. bar-parluur, introducing Chiffin the Cannibal. The “Give me over the money with one hand,” said | ruffian was clad in his usual style, with the great Patch, “and take the letter with t'other. There’s shaggy coat—his rough trousers turned up so as to nothing like duing things all square and proper.” | form a hem and leave his heavy boots fully exposed ; “Do you think I should cheat you out of your while his battered white hat, with the rusty blaek promised reward ?” exclaimed Mr. Gunthorpe, eome- | crape, surmounted the must hang-dog countenance what indignantly. “ Hore is the money: give me | that either Mr. Gunthorpe or William Deveril had tho letter.” ever seen in their lives. Chiffin had nut shaved lor The exchange was made; and notwithstanding threo days; and the growth of his black bristly beard his servile ubsequiousness, Solomon Patch could nvt was noimprovement to a faco the villanous grimneess avoid showing a low cunning leer of satisfactiun of which was enough to frighten any nervous persun. upon his countenance as he consigned the bank- He had his club under his arm; and the looks notes to his greasy pocket-book. which he threw upon Mr. Gunthorpe and Doveri But Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril did nat notice on entering the bar-pariour, were rapid, searching, the expression of the man’s villanous countenance: and suspicious. Mr. Gunthorpe was certainly not for the former was opening the envelope, and the . prepared to behold suoh an awful-looking character ; latter was regarding him. That envelope was a, and he stared at him in mingled consternation and blank; but it contamed a note marked Prieate, curiosity; while Deveril shuddered at the suspiciun and addressed to Mr. Chiffin. Guntborpe and‘ which he cntertained frum the circumstance of such Deveril at once exchanged looks to imply that they .a ferocious wretch being in correspondence with had been taken in; and that though fifty pounds , Ledy Susundale. were already gune, they were not a whit wiser than | “This is Mr. Chiffin,” said Sulomon Patch, clos- they were befure. | ing the door very carefully. “I respect the pledge I gave,” said the old gentle-; “At your service, gentleman,” observed the Can- man, replacing the note in the envelope; “and I nibal, in his gruff deep voice; but he tried to wok will not open this enclosure without your consent. , as amiable as he could at the moment. Now, will you take another fifty pounds fur allow- | “Sit down, Mr. Chiffin,” said the old gentleman, ing me to do so?” whose object it of course was to be as cuurteous as “ It can’t bedone, sir,” responded Solomon Patch. he could possibly ronder himeelf towards such a “You see that note is directed toanother party; and bloodthirsty-looking miscreant. “And now help if I havn't had the curiosity to open it myself, I yourself to a glase of winc: for wo have a little ean’t suffer you—not by no means whateomever.”’, business to discuss. I suppuse the landlord here - “ Who is this Mir. Chifin ?” inquired Gunthorpe. has told you who we are?” GORMIGOOOKS