The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

40 CHAPTER XC. TIE SMEDLEYS AGAIN. Ws must once more request the reader to accom- pany us to the Smedleys’ habitation situated in one of those narrow streets which lie between the lower parts of the Waterloo and Westminster Roads. The house had precisely the same appear- ance as when we first described it in an earlier chapter of this narrative—with the difference that there was a neatly written card in one of the win- dows, announcing lodgings to Jet. The brass plate on the front door, indicating the avocation of Mr. Smedley as a goldbeater, was well polished, as was ite wont: the gilt arm, clutching the hammer in its fist as a farthor illustration of that individual’s calling, was equally resplendent. The two win- dows of the first floor had their dark moreen cur- tains and their white blinds as usual; and Mr. Smediey himself was as constant an attendant at the chapel next door as when we first introduced him to our reader. It was evening—-and Mr. and Mrs. Smediey were seated together in their little parlour on the ground floor. There was a bottle of spirits upon the table; and the somewhat inflamed countenance of Bab Smedley showed that she had been indulging in her predilection for strong waters. Not how- ever that abe had imbibed thereof so copiously on the present occasion as to affect her reason—but only sufficient to render her somewhat sharper and moore querulous in her observations to her husband. They were discussing the circumstances of their position, and deliberating on the plans which they ought to adopt: but it was in low whispering voices that they for the moet part addressed each other,—though every now and then the woman's ejaculations became louder with the petulant im- patience of her utterance; and then Jack Smedley would interpose a timid and hasty “ Hush !” Presently Mrs. Smedley, consulting her hus- band’s silver watch which lay upon the table, said, “ It is close upon nine o'clock, Jack: you must be off with that money.” * And I will just take a few of those religious tracts,” said Smedley, rising from his seat: “ be- cause if I happen to be seen putting anything into those chaps’ hands, and if any question is asked, I can easily declare that it was one of these godly publications.” “Be off with you, with your godly publica- tions!” ejaculated Bab Smedley with an air of supreme diegust: and she forthwith proceeded to mix herself another glass of spirits and water. Jack Smedley wrapped a pound’s worth of silver in a piece of paper, and deposited the little packet in his waistcoat pocket. He took a handful of the religious tracts; and saying to his wife, “When I come back we will continue our deliberations,”—he issued from the house. Glancing hastily up and down the narrow street with the anxious look of a man whose conscience was not eo pure that he had nothing to dread, Jack Smedley continued bis way. To two or three of his neighbours who were standing on their thresholds, as the inhabitants of poor neighbour. hoods are accustomed to do, he addressed a passing observation in a tone of the most friendly fami- THE MYSTRRINE OF THE COURT. liarity: but it was only a very cold response that in each instance he received. Muttering to hime self an imprecation against the individuals who were thus frigid towards him, Smedley continued his way; and in about ten minutes he reached Mint Street. Some little improvement had within the last few years been made in this neighbour. hood: but i¢ was still at the time at which we are writing—as it aleo is at the present day—the re- sort of all socioty’s lowest and vilest outcasts. Every now and then Jack Smedley looked back to see if he were followed by any suspicious indi- vidual; and in order to give a colour to his visit to this vile neighbourhood, he occasionally put a tract into some hand that was thrust forth with the expectation of receiving alms. This proceed- ing on Mr. Smediey’s part brought down upon him the curse of disappointment or the gibe of ridicule: but be cared not. At length Mr. Smedley reached the corner of s nerrow diverging street, or rather miserable ob- scute alley; and there he beheld a couple of ill. looking, squalid, ragged youths, standing together. These were the brothers Bill and Tim Scott; and in no way was their hideous personal appearance altered since we first introduced them to the reader. Now Jack Smedley glanced around him with even a more searching anxiety than he had pre- viously displayed: but flattering himeelf that the coast was perfectly olear, so far as any suspicious- looking individual was concerned, he took the little packet of money from his waistooat-pocket, and thrust it into the outstretched hand of Bill Scott. The large goggle eyes of the miserable being glis- tened with a greedy delight; and his stunted brother Tim, catching huld of Jack Smedley’s sleeve, asked impatiently, “How much have you gived him? cos why he’s safe to bilk his-dwn brother, if so be he has a chance !” “You'll find a pound in that paper,” responded the gold-beater quickly. ‘“ But don’t detain me! —and for heaven's sake don’t stand looking about in the street, or go and get drunk at any boozing-ken and make fools of yourselves. “‘ Never you mind us, Mr. Smedley!” said Bill Scott, the elder brother. ‘“ But what of Barney? Is he took agin?—or has nuffin been heard on him P” “ Nothing,” replied Smedley; “and he has not been retaken—at least not to my knowledge. I always look at the newspaper———” “ Well, I s'pose Barney will turn up agin some of these here cays,” said Bill Scott: “and the sooner the better—for I'm getting unkimmon tired of this here hide-and-seek sort of a life.” “You ought to be thankful,” responded Smed- ley, “that you've got such a good friend in me. But I can’t stop another moment. This day week —at precisely the same hour——.” “ Where is it to be ?” asked Bill Scott. “Where ?”—and after an instant’s musing, Jack Smedley added, “ At the back of St. George's Charch.” Having thus spoken, the goldbeater turned upon his heel, and retraced his way rapidly along Mint Street—taking care however the while to be more profuse in his tract-distribution than while pro- ceeding in the contrary direction. Frequent were the anxious glances which he rapidly flung around : GDoo <S Pe ee ed co