The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

Oe eb nape a hg a ka 274 them as one may say step by step, from the mo- ment they plan a crime till the instant it is com- pleted—brings the whole mass of evidence to burst like a storm around them—and sends them to the scaffold at jast! Don’t you see this constantly being done, I say ?—and isn’t it often a matter of wonder how Larry dees contrive to bring things home to people? Well tnen, now it ceases to be a matter of wonder, after all that I have seen and learnt to-day.” The Hangman then proceeded to inform his friend Bencull how he had penetrated into Larry Sampson’s private apartment, and how he had be- held there all the costumes and other accessories for an infinite variety of complete disguises, Ben- cull was as much amazed and as thoroughly petri- fied with wonder at hearing this recital, as Coffin himself had been when first entering that myste- rious apartment at Sampson’s house. Indeed, seve- ral minutes elapsed ere Bencull could recover in the slightest degree from that stupor into which he was thus plunged. “Well, there is one thing I can’t understand,” he said at length, when he had lighted another pipe and taken afew whiffs, “How was it that within an hour after Larry Sampson escaped from the ditch behind this house, he did not have you and me and all the others taken up and lodged in Newgate at once 2?” “Oh! I can understand his reason full well,” returned the Hangman. “ You was one of the party that did that job with the Prince and Mar- quis of Leveson at Beechy Manor—” “ Well, what of that?” exclaimed Bencull. “ Only that Larry Sampson, as it appears by his book, was employed to sift that affair to the bot- tom,” continued Daniel Coffin ; “and the better to follow out his researches, he took the disguise of a knife- grinder—first going down to Richmoad to make inquiries there, and then coming down here. Now, if he had handed us all over to justice, he would have had to say why he came to the dark crib, so as to make out his tale ;—and that would have been to tell om what special service he was engaged at the time, and consequently to pro- claim to the whole world what had happened to the Prince and the Marquis of Leveson on a cer- tain memorable night. But as neither the Prince nor the Marquis wanted it known at all,—but on the contrary, had certain reasons of their own for wishing it to be kept deuced quiet,—Larry Samp- son thoughtit best to hold his peace about his ad- venture down here.” “ Well, all this may be likely enough,” said Ben- cull: “but still il’s quite clear that Larry knows a great deal more than is convenient. And now Il recollect, the night when he was down here dis- guised as a knife-grinder, he went up-stairs and saw old Jeremy Humpage 2 “Well, well,” interrupted the Hangman: “ never mind anything about the details of what happened on that particular night. What we have chiefly to think about at present, is whether we are to take any step to insure our safety for the future.” “In what way?” asked Bencull, with that kind of ominously significant look which showed that he had caught an inkling of the idea then uppermost in the Hangman’s mind. ‘Come, speak out, Dan’el: you and me are old pals, and can trust each other.” eee ttn ett EE CL GLEE COMMICHOOKS. COM son,’ answered Coffin, business is to be done in future with any degree of safety, as long as Larry is alive. halter round your neck—and round the necks of all our pals and confederates—and he won't be long before he gets one round my neck again also. And when it is considered that he can pull these halters tight at any moment he chooses, by Satan! to make away with such a fellow would be conferring a bless- ing on the whole fraternity.” THE MYST£RIES OF THE COURT. “Then my mind is made up as to Larry Samp- “It’s quite clear that no He has gota “You and me, Dan’el,’ observed Bencull, jerk- ing his pipe towards the back of the house“ have shoved out more than one stiff’un into the black ditch; and therefore I don’t see why we should hesitate in making a croaker of Mr, Larry Sampson.” “To be sure not—and it shall be done!” eried the Hangman. “ But we must also take measures to get possession of his book at the same time that we do his business for him: or else, if that great volume fell into the hands of another officer, it would soon put him into the right way of becoming as ksowing—and consequently as dangerous as Larry Sampson himself.” * Well, have you got any scheme in your head?” demanded Bencull. “Larry Sampson must be enticed down here,” said the Hangman, “ by some means or another; and while you and two or three of our most trust- worthy pals are doing his business for him, I will call at his house in Long Acre on some pretence and get possession of the great book,” “Well and good,” said Bencull. But how the deuce do you hope to entice Larry to trust himself again in the dark erib?” . “ Cunning as he is, let us see if we can’t be more cunning still. What think you of planting some woman upon him to make him believe that through revenge she wants to betray a scheme in which her flash man is engaged? This looks so devilish nat’ral, if we could only get a blowen of the right sort to carry it out.” * What say you to Nell Gibson?” demanded Ben- cull. “ She’s the most artfullest gal which I ever happened to be acquainted with—besides which, she’s got such a way of looking so precious innocent and sincere when she’s really plotting the deepest mis- chief.” “ Yes—we'll make use of Nell Gibsonin this mat- ter. But are you quite sure that Nell is the most trustworthy young woman that we could employ in the matter? You know her better than [ do,” “ Why, my maxim always is never to trust any woman farther than you can see her,” replied Ben- cull: “and therefore it’s my advice that while set- ting Nell Gibson to work against Larry Sampson, we should also set somebody to watch Nell Gibson.” “A very capital plan of your’s, old fellow,” observed the Hangman. “ And now, taking it for granted that Nell Gibson will embark in this business, who shall we plant in turn upon her?” “ Well, of all covies that ever come to this house,” answered Bencull, after a few moments’ reflection, “that Buttoner, or thimble-rig feller, is the downiest. Besides which, he’s been rayther sweet upon Nell Gibson for some time past: but Nell won't have no- thing to say to him because he’s down in his luck, and hasn’t done over well lately. If we was only to rig him out with new toggery from head to foot—give A SS ————EE A