The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 73: what you’re looking at

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od at the moment—of the name of Ferney, and who had guite a mania for subjects. Well, Bob Shakerly went and saw the doctor, and told him what a prize night be had if he chose to give a decent sum for it. This he at once agreed to do; and our arrange- ‘ments were made accordingly. Me and»my pals determined to penetrate once more into the castle and get out the body; for we saw the means of doing it without running any particular risk of dis- | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. quite enough brandy-and-water: so I will be off. But don’t forget to be down at Patch’s to-morrow night at nine o’clock—or else you and me are very likely to fall out.” “You know that when J promise I always fulfil my undertaking,” replied Madge Somers. “To be sure: I don’t doubt you,” said Chiffin. “And now good night.” “Good night,” answered the woman: and the covery. On his sidé Bob Shakerly agreed to be in Cannibal took his departure. the wood close by the castle with a horse and cart in the middle of the night; and things being thus settled, we set to work withont delay. You have never been down in that part of Lincolnshire, have your” “ No—never,” answered Madge. “ Well, Saxondale Castle is an immense building, and at least half of it was shut up in those times,” continued the Cannibal. “I don’t know anything about it now. All we learnt the first time of our breaking in had taught us how to do things better on this second occasion: so we clambered up to one of the windows that overlooked the River Trent, and got into the uninhabited part that way. We went down into the vaults and found the body just where we had left it lying on the steps. One would have thought the rats must have begun to make a meal upon it: but it was quite otherwise — the stifPun was as fresh and as perfect as when we dragged it out of the water two nights before. Well, we got it up the stone stairs into a sort of vestry-place opening out of the chapel. There we put it into one of those precious big sacks that re- surrectionists have for the purpose, and lowered it by ropes out of the window by which we had got in. Our own escape was made without exciting any alarm in the building; and we got the stiff’un safe away into the wood, where Bob Shakerly was wait- CHAPTER XIV. FRKSH ADVENTURES ON THE SAME NIGHT. WE left Lord Saxondale at the moment when, having quitted the hut in the precipitate manner already described, he had gained the Seven Sisters Road. It was not in a very loncly part that he now found himself: for Hornsey Wood Tavern was within five minutes’ walk in one direction, and ten minutes would bring him to the houses in Hornsey Road in another direction. He thought the best- thing he could do would be to proceed to the tavern, knock the people up, and procure a bed for the remainder of the night. But while he paused for a few moments in the middle of the road to reflect whether he should adopt this course, or make the best of his way back into London, his ear caught the quick tramplings of a steed apprvaching from the direction of the metropolis. Almost imme- diately afterwards the horseman came up to the spot where Saxondale was loitering ;.and although proceeding at the time at full gallop, he suddenly reined in his steed so that it came to a dead halt. The reader will remember that it was a clear star- ing with co uorse and cart. He then drove off to light night; and Saxondale was therefore enabled Gainsborough, while me and my pals followed on to perceive that the stranger who had thus stepped foot. Dr. Ferney paid the price agreed upon; and 80 abruptly, had the appearance of a young man though when it came to be divided amongst us all, ! very handsomely dressed: but he could see little of our shares wern’t very great, yct it was a matter of his countenance, imasmuch as a great shawl- eight pound apiece—and that was better than kerchief, tied round the neck, reached almost up nothing. Me and my pals came back to London, | to the nose—while the hat, which had large brims, and sold Ralph Farefield’s jewellery to Solomon! was drawn low over the forehead. The steed Patch. So, all things considering, we did not return , which the traveller bestrode was a magnificent quite empty-handed.” animal; and though evidently docile and obedient “ And that is all you have to tell me?” observed | to the will of its rider, it nevertheless began pawing Madge Somers, as Chiffin the Cannibal left off the ground with some little degree of impatience at speaking. | thus being checked in the full career which seemed “Yes—that’s all, and enough too I should think,” , best suited to its high mettle. ac answered with one of lis grim smiles. “ Wasn’t| “You are out late to-night, sir,” said the horse- it a precious string of adventures? But by the by, | man, whose voice, though sounding with somewhat I may tell you that the Dr. Ferney I have been muffled accents through the folds of the shawl- speaking about, has since kecome a very cele- neckerchief, was nevertheless mild and agreeable. brated man. Bob Shakerly told me so. Ah!| “ Yes,” answered Saxondale, who was just in that Bob’s an old man now, and does nothing in the frame of mind to be by no means displeased at meet- resurrection line: subjects have got so precious | ing some one to talk to, after an adventure which cheap since the law was altered, and doctors can | had been fraught with so much terror, and the in- get hold of poor people that die in hospitals, and fluence of which still lingering upon his mind, made workhouse paupers, and convicts. But Bob is doing | the road seem more lonely and the silence of the pretty well though, in another line: he keeps a knacker’s yard down at Cow Cross—Sharp’s Alley, I think it is you must know whereabouts I night more ominous than under other circumstances they would have appeared. “ But I may make the same observation in respect to you. We are both mean? So having dug up human bodies for the late. It must be considerably past twelve o'clock :” doctors to dissect, he now buys old horses which he |—and pulling out his watch, he examined it by the dissects himself for cat’s-meat and sausages. But starlight. ‘ Near one, I declare!” it’s precious late, Madge, and I think I have had; ‘ Which way lies your road?” inquired the tra eee 0)(0)(0) im <S (C (EO) (€(@)