The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 303: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVII THE GATHERING OF A STORM It was about nine o’clock in the evening when the Hang- man paid a visit to his friend Bencull at the den of infamy in Jacob’s Island. On being admitted by the master of the place, Daniel Coffin said, in a rough, impatient tone, “‘ Well, what’s the matter? Is anything amiss? Why did you send up that pressing message just now to tell me to come down at once? ”’ | ‘“Can’t you wait a minute or two, till we are cosy in the back room together? ”’ asked Bencull. ‘‘ But you don’t give a feller time even to shut the door.” “ Well, look sharp about it,’”’ said the Hangman, “ ’cause why, I don’t like these sudden messages, — they make one afraid.” | The door being secured, the two ruffians passed into the back room, where Bencull at once produced pipes and a bottle of spirits. ‘““ Now, then, what is it all about? ’’ demanded the Hang- man. ‘Why, I don’t much like summat that I see this after- noon,’”’ answered Bencull. ‘‘ There was that Buttoner feller talking to old Mother Franklin at the corner of the street where Mrs. Young lives.” “Ts that all?” asked the Hangman, contemptuously. “Why shouldn’t the Buttoner stop and chat with old Mother Franklin? Didn’t he live for some time with Nell Gibson at Mrs. Young’s, and isn’t it natural enough, then, that he should look on Mother Franklin as an old acquaintance? ” “Well and good,” responded Bencull, ‘‘ but there’s a great deal to be judged of by the manner of people, and also by any little word or two that one may catch accidentally.” 277 (C(O) nn) (C 0)(0)©) <Si