The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

THE CATASTROPHE 245 Thus speaking, the ruffian proceeded to rifle the pockets - of the miserable marquis of all they contained. He took from the nobleman his watch and chain, the diamond pin from his shirt-frill, the rings from his fingers, his purse and a roll of bank-notes from his pocket. ‘ A thousand guineas if you let me go,’ ' said the en awfully terrified. | ‘“‘ No, not if you offered me ten shousand? or eiidente thou- sand,”’ replied the Hangman, “ because I should know very well that you have only got some cursed treachery in view.’ “On my soul and honour, as a noble and as a gentlennsiti; I will keep faith with you,” urged the marquis, imploringly. ‘‘T. can’t believe it,’’ rejoined Daniel Coffin, with brutal gruffness. ‘‘ Things have gone too far betwixt you and me for us to have any more faith in each other. In fact, you must have. been very desperate, and felt that matters had come to a crisis, when you made up your mind to shoot me. But let me tell you, my lord, that my vengeance is not half- finished yet. I mean to make the house too hot to hold you,” added the villain, with a savage leer of fearful significancy. He then turned abruptly away, fetched the wax candle from the adjoining room, and as he held it in his hand, stopped in front of the now horror-stricken marquis, saying, in a terrible voice, ‘‘ I mean by one bold stroke to put an end to you and your vile niece at once.. By so doing I shall punish you both for all you have tried to do against me, and I shall at the same time relieve myself from any chance of being troubled by you in future. I know pretty well that if you noblemen make up your minds to ruin a poor devil like me, you won’t hesitate at the means, and, as I just now said, your lordship evidently feels that things have come to such a crisis that, no matter at what risk to yourself, you must get rid of me. So here goes! ” With these words the Hangman, who had lashed himself up like any maddened tiger to a frenzy of rage, hurried on into the gallery containing all the specimens of art which the prurient imagination of Lord Leveson had at different times congregated there. The nobleman, fearfully alive to the full meaning of the miscreant’s threats, called after him, in an agonizing voice of the most piteous entreaty, to relent, to come back, and to enter into amicable terms with him. (SCOINN GDoOo S (CO in