The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

158 was now empty and silent, she knocked at the door of the adjoining premises; and lier summons was immediately answered by the man Briggs. “Ah! Julia my dear,” he exclaimed, the moment that the light which he held in his hand flashed upon her countenance: “ how d’ye do? I am quite de- lighted to see you. Walk in.” The young woman instantly accepted the invita- tion, and followed Briggs into his parlour, where she sate down. He insisted upon her laying aside her cloak and bonnet; and when he observed that she was so poorly dressed, he exclaimed, “ Why, the world doesn’t seem to jog well with you, Julia. Take a drop of something to console you—and tell me what you've been doing with yourself since I saw you last.” Suiting the action tothe word, Briggs filled a glass with gin, which he handed to Mrs. Page; and when she had imbibed the dram, he indulged him- self in one, drinking to her “ better luck.” “ Let me see,” he continued, taking a seat, and scratching the enormous wen upon his hideous head, —“ when was it that I saw you last? Oh! abouta fortnight ago, when you came to bury your poor father. You told me then that you had hopes of ob- taining a situation, and you seemed in very good spirits, What's happened since ?” “Oh! disappointment—nothing but disappoint- ment,” answered Julia, assuming a tone and air of deep vexation: for as Briggs entértained not the slightest idea relative to her marriage, not éven sus- pected that she was acquainted with Page, she had her own reasons for not enlightening him upon that head. “I have failed in all imy endeavours to do anything honest to obtain a livelihood,” she added ; “ and that’s the reason I am liere now.” “ Why—what do you suppose I can do for you, Julia ?” demanded the man. “Well, I don’t know,” she answered. * But J thought that perhaps you could find some means of making me useful. You've a great many acquaint- ances: there’s the Magsman—and Carrotty Poll— and the Gallows’ Widow—and the Big Beggaroian —and the Kinchin Grand——” “Oh! yes—that’s all very good!” exclaimed Briggs. “But you know I’m more of 6 servant to the Magsman, than a master. Besides, you had an opportunity of belonging to us, if you’d liked, long ago: but you always seemed to treat us 80 coolly ——” “ Ah! that was when my father was alive and I didn’t think I should ever want your assistance,” replied Julia. “ But I was wrong—very wrong fo act in that manner; and now I’m sorry for it. I'd do anything if you'd only forgive me. The fact is, I'm houseless and penniless,” she added, bursting into tears; “ and if you don’t do something for me, I must go and drown myself in the river.” “ Come—leave off crying, there’s a dear,” said Briggs, in a tone which he endeavoured to render as consolatory as possible. “We won't let you starve. But I really thought you had gone upon the town.” “ I'd sooner destroy myself at once—for that’s what I dread,” exclaimed Julia. ‘“No—no: Pil never do that! You suppose that because I used to go with young men when I lived next door, that I must be a thorough bad one. But if I had my fancies, [ never was a prostitute—and never will be.” “ Well, well—I didn’t mean to annoy you, Julia. You know that we're none of us very particular—] ——-—eP> Ge | THE MYSTERIES. mean them that frequents this house; and so I spnke accordingly. But tell me, Julia—did your father leave you without a penny piece?” demanded the man. “Without more than was enough to bury him in the wretched way that you saw,” answered the young woman. “ And all his papers {* continued Briggs, interro- gatively. * I found none—although I looked everywhere,” was the reply. “Nor yet any of those pretty shiners, you know ~* “Not a single one.” “Well—that’s a pity!” exclaimed the man. “ I really thought the old fellow must have had a store of them somewhere or another.” “fT dug up the cellar—hunted evetywhere—up chimneys, in dark corners, and even in the roof,” re- sponded Julia: “ but I could find nothing.” “Tt’s a bore about the papers being lost,” said Briggs: “ because, according to all accounts, some of them must have been of value.” *Ah! I wish I had them,” exclaimed the roung woman: “I should not perhaps be as unhappy as I am now. But can you do anythinz for me?—is there no way in which I can possibly assist you in any of your plans? I would serve you faith- fully——” “ Well, the truth is that we can always make use of a person like you,” interrupted Briggs. “ But, don’t you see, we're obliged te be so very particular and cautious.” “ Quite right,” returned Julia. “Atthe same time you are well aware that I am tolerably trustworthy: for a good many of your secrets are already known to me—all your transactions with my late father— especially the business with the Aylesbury bankers: and yet I never split upon you—I'd cut my head off sooner.” “Well, I think you would, Julia.” observed Briggs, approvingly. “Come—Ilill undertake to admit you into our body; and I dare say the Mags- man won't be angry with me for doing it of my own accord. So make yourself comfortable. Ilc’ll be here to-night at twelve punctually : and 80 will the Gallows’ Widow and the Big Beggarman. They’ve gota little business to settle with those very Ayles- bury bankers you was a-talking of.” ®* What! Mr. Martin and Mr. Ramsey?” ex- claimed Julia. “Just so. To tell you the truth, Mr. Ramsey is inthis house at present—up-stairs at this very moment,” answered Briggs, in a confidential tone. “He hag been here this fortnight, dnd is only just recovered from avery severe illness. In fact, he was half-drowned—and the Magsman brought him. here in a hackney-coach one night, from the Ma- riners’ Arms—that public-house, you know, down by Execution Dock.” “I know it well enough,” returned Julia. “ Poor gentleman! was it an accident, then?” “Why—not exactly,” answered Briggs, with a coarse chuckle. “The fact is, he and the Big Beggarman and some others were in a boat together —and, as he had a bag of gold with him, the Beg- garman gave him a shove overboard. But he was picked up by another party, and taken to the Ma- riners’ Arms. There the Maysman went, disguiscd as a gentleman —a slap-up Bond Street swell—and got him away. Since then Ramscy has forgivep COMGbOO OD) Ss COMM