The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 177: what you’re looking at

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160 “ God be thanked !” exclaimed the baronet, who was in deep mourning, and whose features were haggard and care-worn. “ But how have you con- trived, my good Mrs. Page, to ascertain sufficient to lead you to the adoption of this belief.” “We have already told you not to ask us how or by what means I could insinuate myself into the councils of those villains,” replied Julia: “you see, sir, that when I suggested that it would be worth while for me to make the experiment, I was not far wrong. Ramsey is staying at Briggs's house, where he has been lying ill. Martin came in while I was there——” “TI knew that he was in London,” exclaimed Sir Richard. “ You see, Mr. Page, that the informa- tion I received at Aylesbury was quite correct.” “Mr. Martin came to report to Mr. Ramsey the circumstance of Lady Stamford’s death, which he has read in the papers of this morning,” continued Julia; “and they are now afraid that she may have made certain confessions to you.” “ And their fears are justified,” observed Sir Richard: “for, as I have already told you, my poor penitent wife avowed everything ere she breathed her last.” “What more have you ascertained, my dear?” demanded Page of his wife. “Mr. Martin, on coming out of the coffee-shop,” she replied, “saw Sir Richard Stamford enter this very house: and would you believe it—I am ac- tually sent over as a spy to ascertain whether he lives here, andif not, who he comes to visit. Oh! you should have seen how well I kept my coun- tenance while receiving these instructions and a description of the exterior of the house which | knew so much better than them.” “Excellent!” cried Page, rubbing his hands. * What more ?” “The villains are to hold a grand council tuo- night at twelve o’clock,” continued Julia. “The Magsman, the Big Beggarman, the Gallows’ Widow, Briggs, Martin, and Ramsey will all be there—and your death, sir, will be resolved upon, I have no doubt from what the miscreants let drop,” she added, turning towards the baronet. “We will see how far they can succeed in their diabolical aims,” observed Sir Richard. “Mrs. Page, { thank you most sincerely for the immense service which you have rendered me: but words are nothing —deeds shall prove my gratitude. Thank God! my affairs are far from being so desperate as J at first anticipated—and I shall be a wealthy man again. But my character must be thoroughly and com- pletely cleared.” “It will be, my dear sir—it will be,” exclaimed Page. “I told you so when we were in the dungeon together, and when you had not one tithe of the proofs of innocence which you possess now. But have you anything else to tell us, Julia my love?” “ Yes—one little incident,’ she answered. “I am to be back there, in Thacker’s Court, by twelve o’clock, and report the results of my inquiries.” “Ah! we must see about that part of the busi- ness,” said Page. “ You're too useful and too pre- cious, my dear, to put your life in jeopardy.” “J am not afraid,” returned his wife, coolly ; “and it may be that by going back to them again I can assist in their capture.” “ This is a point on which Mr. Grumley must de- cide,” said Page. “ Let us now take a coach and be THE MYSTERIES. off to Bow Street. You are sure that Grumley will be there, Sir Richard ?” ‘When I explained in private to the magistrate this morning all the circumstances of my case, and the hope which I entertained of being enabled to place an entire gang of villains in the bands of jus- tice,” responded Sir Richard, “he ordered the head officer to remain at my disposal; and I made an appointment with the man to see him this even- ing.” “Ah! that’s Grumley — Peter Grumley,” said Page: “he’s a famous thief-taker and very fond of a drop of drink, I believe. But we will be off now. Come, Julia dear, put on another gown and throw away that wretched rag.” . “Not if I’m to go back to Briggs’s house,” an- swered the young woman. “It was my miserable appearance that helped me to make out such a good tale to the fellow that he really pitied me at one time. I will keep on this gown, and resume this old bonnet and cloak, in case of need.” “ Well—just as you like,” said Page. *“Come—we have no time to lose.” And thie trio sallied forth together, Mr. Page and Sir Richard having enveloped themselves in their cloaks, and Julia taking with her the latch-key be- longing to the front door. A hackney-coach conveyed them to Bow Street, where they knocked at the pri- vate door of the Police-Office; aud the summons was shortly answered by Mr. Peter Grumley him- self. Sir Richard Staniford mentioned his name ; and that functionary instantly conducted the party into a room where a candle was burning upon the table. A pewter-pot on the mantel-piece and the pipe which the famous thief-taker held in his hand, showed that he had been enjoying himself by the cheerful fire sparkling in the grate. “ Sit down,” he said, as he closed the door of the dingy-looking and dirty apartment. “But I know you, my good sir,” he exclaimed, fixing his eyes in a searching manner on the ex-traveller for the firm of Hodson and Morley: “your name’s down in my books—and it’s Page tou. I recollect now. Ah! that little affair of our’n was a failur’ some short time back,” he added, sinking at the same mo- ment into a huge black leathern chair studded with brass nails. «“ But it shan’t be a failure to-night, Mr. Grum- ley,” observed Page: “ and what's more, it's some of the very same people that we mean to put into your clutches.” “Ah! what—the Magsman ¢” said the thief-taker, puffing his pipe in a leisurely, comfortable manner, and then burying a considerable portion of his face in the pewter-pot. “You've hit the right nail on the head, old fel- low,” exclaimed Mr. Page, chuckling and rubbing his hands gleefully. “ And who's this young o’oman ?” asked Grumley, taking the pipe from his mouth and waving it to- wards Julia. “ My wife, sir—my wife, I beg to inform you,” re- turned Page, drawing himself up in a stately man- ner. “ But you musn’t judge of her by the costume which she now wears. I admit that it Is not elegant —I will allow that it is not becoming, Mr. Grumley : but let me tell you that it is assumed for a particular purpose,” he added, placing his fore-finger slily against his nose, while his sharp countenance as- sumed a particularly sapient expression. COMNGBOOKS CORT