The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

48 THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. and here is a guinea to indemnify you for your loss of so much of the punch as will be disposed of in your absence.” Tony Wilkins promised to acquit himself faith- fally of his errand; and taking the little parcel he secured in the pocket of the greasy coat that hung loose about his person. He then stuck a battered bat upon his head, and was about to hurry forth, when Lady Bess stopped him for a moment,—saying, “I do not question your honesty towards me, Tony, because I know that ali of you here would do me a service if you could—yes, even Chiffin who growled at me just now :"—and as she spoke she bent her eyes with a perfect blaze of lustre apon the Cannibal, who evidently shrank from their overawing power. “But still I may as well hint, Tony,” she con- tinued, again turning round towards her niee- senger, “that there is nothing in the packet of any value toa soul save the individual into whose hands you are to give it; and therefore if the devil should tempt you, it will not be worth your while to sneak out of your way and open it in the expectation of finding money or bank-notes.” “T wouldn't do it—I wouldn’t do it,” answered Tony Wilkins, with an air of sincerity which for an instant rose dominant above the sinister ex- pression of his countenance; and without an- other word he darted away. The old landlord and his wife now made their appesrance with the two steaming bowls of punch ; and when they were placed upon the table, Lady Bees filled a. wine-glass, saying, “ I drink success to you all. Come, Chiffin, I am determined to put you into a good humour, and you shall pledge me in a glass.” “ Well, I don’t know how it is, but you. make us alldo just as you like, Lady Bees,” said the Cannibal, half good-humouredly and balf-sullenly. “You've got a power over us—I suppose it is because you are so superior to the general run of of us folke——” “Never mind what is the reason,” exclaimed the amazonian lady, laughing. “Drink your punch, Chiffin, and do try to look good-natured for once.” The Cannibal, as if obeying a sort of magical influence which he coald uot resist, did as he was ordered; and as he put down the emptied glass he smacked his lips, while a grim emile expanded completely over his hang-dog countenance, as he gaid, ‘‘I do really think that if I saw anybody trying to do you an injury, Lady Bees, I should give them six inches of my clasp-knife, even though { swung for it.” | * Well, it may be useful to have such a cham- pion as you, Chiffin,” exclaimed the dashing lady, with a merry lapgh which displayed her ivory teeth to the utmost advantage. “But now I must be off.” “Will you not wait,” inquired one of the women, “ to eee if Tony comes back all right ?” “TI know he will,” replied Lady Beas. “ He is one of the greatest ecam ps amongst you and there- fore the best to be trusted. And now good night.” With these words she quitted the room— paused at the bar outside to pay for all she had ordered—and then issuing forth, mounted her ateed which the pot-boy was holding. It was a splendid animal, of dark chesnut colour, with a proudly arohing neok, and of Arabian fineness of limb. Lady Bess tossed the pot-boy half-a-crown, and then gently walked the noble animal, which she bestrode with the most perfect experience, over the rough uneven road til] she emerged from Agar Town; and entering Maiden Lane, galloped away in the the direction of the country. In about a quarter of an hour after her depar- ture, Tony Wilkins returned to the tap-room of the Billy Goat; and to the inquiring look which his friends, both male and female, fung upon him, he answered, “ It's all right. I met the gen’leman in the cloak: he give the watchwordse—and so I gived him the packet.” “ What sort of a looking feller was he 7” asked one of the women. “I'm blowed if I could see his face,” replied Tony: ‘he took precious good care of that. But was tall and dressed like a reg’lar gen'leman.” “ Perhaps he’s Lady Beses's lover ?” suggested another of the women. “ Lover indeed!" growled Chiffin, contemptu- ously: “I don't think such a woman as Lady Bess knows what love is. She's altogether above common things——~In short she’s a strange crea- ture, and I’m hanged if I can. half understand her. Since first-——” The Cannibal's observations were here inter- rupted by the opening of the tap-room door, and the entrance of a woman who was at once wel- comed by all present and saluted by the name of Madge Somers. She was between forty and fifty years of age, had very harsh features, and dark hair turning grey. She wore an old cloak, the hood of which was drawn partly over her head, bat not so much as to conceal a dingy white cap with great frills very much tumbled, as if she were wont to sleep in it at. night as well as wear it in the day-time. “Well, Madge, what's brought you here jast now ?” asked Chiffin. “ To speak to you,” was the response. ‘‘Some- thing has turned up to-day that promises a har- vest: so I want you to help me to reap it.” “ Well, you sha'n’t have to ask twice. But are we to talk it over now ?” “ 'Yes—at once; because I want to be getting back homeward :"—-and the woman, who had not sat down, beckoned Chiffin to follow her from the room. He did so—and they ascended to a private apartment on the upper floor, where they remained r for half-an-hour in earnest conversation. At the ond of this interview Madge Somers took her departure from the Ailly Goat, while Chiflin rejoined his companions in the tap- room to partake of the supper fur which Lady Bess had paid. aE CHAPTER XIL THE COTTAGE AGAIN. It was about nine o'clock on thefollowing evening, when Lord Saxondale, in pursuance of theappoint- ment he had made with the woman at the cottage, knocked at the door of that lonesome habitation. His summons was at once answered by the woman herself; and he was admitted into the same sordid little room where he had held his conference with CONE DOOkKS COMM