The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

{F THE MYSTERIMG. == awe (THR COUNTESS OF DESBOROUGH. chats its people will have to deal with, to-night,” observed Dick the Tramper. “ There can’t be a suspicion of what's going to take place: ‘oos there's only eight in the secret—and six an us is here.” “ Eight!” ejaculated the Kinchin-Grand. “Who's the other two ?” “Why, the Gallows’ Widow and Carrotty Poll, to be sure,” replied the Tramper. “Oh! ah! I forgot the women,” said the Kin- chin-Grand, lighting his pipe. “ By the bye, Mr. Warren, you talked just now about fighting Old Nick: do you know that they say he has his boos- ings here once in every year—and a precious set out it is too, by all accounts.” “Why! I'm blowed if you don’t half believe it!” exclaimed the Magsman, who was likewise pufiing a short clay filled with very strong tobacco. “No—TI'll be hanged if I do,” answered the Kin- thia-Grand: “or else I wouldn’t be here to-night. Sl What I undertakes, I likes to go through with ; and as I shouldn’t go through with this here affair if I was afeard, I shouldn’t have undertook it in that case. But, I say, are we all armed as agreed upon the night afore last ?” “A pair o’ pistols and a stout club for each in- diwidual ?” added Miles the Bazgioak. The responses were satisfactory on this head; and the men continued to chatter, smoke, and drink until the Magsman’s watch, being consulted by means of placing the glowing bowl of his pipe near the dial so as to throw the light upon it, in- formed the company that it was verging rapidly upon twelve. “Now, then, my lads,” exclaimed Joe Warren; “we must prepare for action. Put away your pipes —take another swill at the bingo-flask—and follow me.” ; The night, as it deepened, had grown more gloomy and menacing: but still the storm with arc ene ef | 241 OONRANKA ateilo) SS COMM