The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

266 THE COURT OF LONDON sessed in his favour; for, as the reader is already aware, he had a most hangdog look about him, even when attired in his best apparel. ‘‘Is Mr. Sampson at home? ”’ he asked. ‘No, he is not,” responded Dame Margery, eying him askance, and keeping the door half-closed. ‘But I want to see him very particularly,” said the Hangman. “ Indeed, it’s about professional business,’’ he added, with a significant look. ‘Then who are you? ”’ inquired the woman. ‘‘ Lord bless you! ”’ returned the Hangman, “‘ my functions are up there in the Old Bailey,” and as he spoke, with a still deeper significancy of look, he jerked his thumb over his left shoulder in the direction of the locality which he had named. Now it instantaneously struck Dame Margery that the fellow must be a turnkey from Newgate; and, with this belief, she had no longer any hesitation in admitting him into the house. She accordingly requested him to walk in and wait a short time, observing that it was more than probable that Mr. Sampson would not be long before he - returned. Daniel Coffin at once accepted the invitation, and was forthwith conducted into the breakfast-parlour, where Dame Margery left him. But after waiting upwards of three-quarters of an hour, the Hangman got tired of remaining there doing nothing; and he thought that he might as well repair to the nearest public-house and regale himself until Mr. Sampson should return. He accordingly issued forth from the parlour with the view of telling the housekeeper whither he was going, and requesting that a message be sent to inform him when her master came back; but though he coughed, hemmed, and stamped with his foot, in order to attract the attention of Dame Margery, no response was given to his summons. Fancying she might be up-stairs, he coolly and quietly ascended to the story above; for Mr. Daniel Coffin was not accustomed to be over- nice or delicate in the observance of ceremony and the punctilios of etiquette. ‘Hem! hah! I say, now then! Will nobody answer? ” he exclaimed, on reaching the landing of the first floor; but all was silent, — for the very simple reason that Dame Margery was down in the kitchen attending to her culinary CONNIE OO KS (E(0)