The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 338: what you’re looking at

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

FEB MYSTERIES waistoos! pecket. But scarcely was the feat per- formed, when the em ployer of the two ruffians turned round ang bade them take @ ¢hizel from the bag and remove the plate from the particular coffin to which he painted. hig was sdon done—the nobleman holdiag the lantern in such a manner thal, while it amisied the operation, it permitted not the operators themselves ta read the inacription on the plate. “What next?” demanded the Magsman, as the nobleman secured about bis person the plate upon which be seized the moment it was wrenched away from the eoffin- lid. Paes the light, and stand a little farther off,” was response. Joe Warren and the Beggarman accordingly fell beck a few paces, the farmer receiving the lantern from the hands of the nobleman, who now producing another plate from beneath his cloak, proceeded to fasten * on in the place whence the old one had been renowed. This task was easily accomplished by means of four black screws aud a ecraw-driver taken from the bag. “Now we have done all our business i ta the vault,” saidthe nobleman; and, receiving back the lantern from the Magsuaan, be led the way from the noisome subterranean which was still pervaded with a stifling, fetid odour that made the stomach sick, the heart heave, aud the tougue experience a thick, clammy, and nauseating taste. The Magaman and the Beggarman replaced the stone over the mouth of the yault: the box of coments already alluded to was brought into requi- sition; and the entire pavement, now uniform once more, was swept lightly with a small brush supplied by the bag—so that there was not the sli ig atest | in- dieation nor appcarance calculated to excite a gus- picion of the sanctuary for the dead having been dis- turbed. And it may likewise be as well to reiterate the observation that while thus employed in con- signing the huge flag back to its setting, the two men were not permitted by the masked unknown . catch a glimpse of the inscription grayen upon “New follow me,’ he said, when this portion of the task was accomplisbed; and, quitting the cloistral nook, be led the way to the farther end ef the church, where one of the keys upon the large bunch already mentioned, s00n opened a door near the communion-table. The party now entered the vestry, which was a email room, carpetted, snd surrounded by bench- seals, A surplice and black gown hung against the wall; and in a hall-open cupboard an empty decanter and two or three wine-glasses appeared apon a shelf. Over the mantel-piece there was a pair of clerical bands was hauging. From one side of the vestry-roem a sort of eloset opened ; and in this recess wns kept the iron safe containing the registers. Giving the lantern to the Magsman, the noble- man tried the small keys of his bunch, one after the other, without any effect. The coor of the iron safe remained immoveavle—the lock afforded no symptoms of yielding. “If it do not give way by fair means, it shall by foul !° exclaimed the unknown, the lIower portion of his countenance which the mask left revealed, flashing with the excitement of impatience and vexation. $23 “Me and my pal would soon make light work of it,” observed the Magsman. “ There's implements in the bag that would force the obsti- nate sate. 93 | “In fact,” added tha Big Beggarman, thinking it necessary to thrust in a word, “ there's no safety at all in a safe when me and Joe Waecren are con- cerned.” “You shall »t manage it w 2. “But see—th Is outburst of jo \~ lieve that this it in the night's 2 are not requis 9 unknown, as s from the safe, lo pose of 9 fla is book.” . Thus speaking, he prodaced 9 case-hottle from beneath his cloak; and while the two ruffians sate down upon one of ‘the benches in the vestry to en- joy it, the nobleman placed himself at the table for the purpose of examining the register. With the lantern near or that its light fe’ upon the m slowly oyer after a careful 18 unknown bent over the hu Bb an attitude that denoted : and thoogh all the upper px 8 was concealed by the blac in expression about the mou ~ found anxiety lest the recc Id not be there. : Leaf after | ID hour passed- ~ and then tha 19 nobleman se — fence, $0 prt be gister: and t ig for some en 20 between them. “This is the ruammest lark altovether thgt I ever knew in all my life,” odserved the Magsmas. “Tt’s a reclar romance,” returned the Big Beggar-_ man. “But have you any idea whereabouts in, England we are ?” “ Not the remoteat,” was the res gentleman justice, he has manag that he has even baffled us in tha: day may coine, my fine feller,” ad significant y, “ when we shall find ¢ is now 80 strange and mysterious. GR 5 SO two distinct clues——” diminutive mirror, to the nail sustaining which a |. “Two!” repeated the Big Beggarman : “ bow d’ye make that out? I only know of the signet-ring which you took off the finger of the mouldy stiff’un down in the vault——” *And the Christian name of that lady,” added the Magsman. “ Didn't you catch it? “To be sure I did !” wasthe reply. “What a fool I am to overlook such an important point. Be- sides, such a peculiar Christian name too——” “Ah! it was a nice-looking young feller that screamed out that name,” observed the Magsman. “Tt was almost a pity to put him into the hole [ wonder who the deuce he could have been——” “ And while you're wondering, you may just as lenty of | well wonder about who the lady was also—and who | Comite bole Ss COMM