The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 266: what you’re looking at

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260 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. sible for us to obtain admission to such a ines would not the detectives themselves assume a par- ticular apparel and penetrate thither ?” “ Bless you, sir,” answered the constable ; “ those kind of villains would recognise the detectives i in a moment, no matter how disguised. They are keen and cunning enough to distinguish between real gentlemen, such as you are, and other persons drest up to play the part of gentlemen. That you can get into these haunts of which we are speaking, there is little doubt: indeed you are pretty sure to be invited there by those who would at once mark you as their prey. But I again warn you of the risk you will have to run; and unless you are well armed 5 “We took that precaution before we set out,” interrupted Captain Stanley. “ We have each a brace of double- barrelled pistols and a good clasp- knife upon our persons.” “ And this stick of mine,’ added Lord Charles Meredith, “ though it seems only a gentleman’s walking-cane, is a life-preserver and well loaded at the top.” “Then you are decided, gentlemen?” asked the constable, still with a hesitating and dubious man- ner: “for recollect that [ cannot accompany you.” “We are decided,” said Captain Stanley. “ Lead the way as far as you consider it prudent to con- duct us, in order to show us the route.” ‘The constable accordingly struck into another labyrinth of low streets, alleys, and courts, all of which he assured Lord Charles and Captain Stanley were swarming with loathsome life like a morass with reptiles; and the two gentlemen soon lost every idea of their whereabouts. At length the constable stopped short in the middle of a narrow street, feebly lighted with gas-lamps, and where the houses all had a dark and sinister ap- pearance. “ Now, gentlemen,” he said, “ I must accompany you no further—or my presence may frustrate the object you have in view. Proceed to the end of this street—take the turning to the right and the second to the left. If you could make a pretence of being in liquor, it will serve your purpose all the better. I need tell you no more: for if anything happens to forward your views, it will take place somewhere about the spot to which I am directing you—and you will be enabled to judge for your- selves.” Another liberal donation rewarded the police- constable for his civility and his assistance ; and he then parted company from Lord Charles Mere- dith and Captain Stanley. —_——=s CHAPTER XLIX. MOTHER BAMBRIDGE'S ESTABLISHMENT. FoLttow1nG the constable’s directions, the two adventurous military officers took the turn to the right and then the second to the left,—this latter bringing them into an alley which was very narrow at its entrance, but suddenly widened somewhat as they advanced into it, from the fact of the houses being built farther baek: on either side. These houses which thus stood back, were higher than those at the entrance of the alley, and they had | rooden fences i in front, enclosing what were meant to be little bits of garden, about a couple of yards wide. Midway down the alley stood two public-houses, nearly fronting each other: or to be more par- ticular still, one was a public-house and the other a beer-shop. Over the former was a flaring gas- light—over the latter a lamp of more modest pre- tensions: but the two together illumined all that part of the alley. Lights were still burning in several of the adjacent houses ; and as the drizzling rain had by this time ceased, there was no misty veil to obscure the light thus thrown forth. From both public-house and beer-shop the sounds of uproarious revelry pealed forth, and in such dis- cordant strains as to leave a doubt in the minds of the two officers whether there was not as much wrangling as merriment in the din which thus smote their ears. In front, too, of both these houses of entertainment several loose women,— some apparelled with flaunting pretension—were loitering in company with men who were dressed in what may be termed a “ swellish style.” A little beyond the beer-shop, a black doll with a piece of white calico wrapped round, doubtless to serve as a frock, swung over the door of a rag and bottle shop,—the windows of which displayed pictures in rudely executed water colours, repre- senting plum-puddings, as an intimation that housewives by means of thrift in disposing of their dripping, their rags, and their broken glass, might at the end of the year save up sufficient to provide the Christmas comestible thus illustrated. Nearly opposite the shop just named, was a marine-store dealer’s ; and both establishments were open, although it was now close upon one in the morn- ing. The light of candles shone dimly forth from the doorways; and every now and then an in- dividual—male or female—might be seen coming from the opposite extremity of the alley and diving abruptly into one or the other of these shops,— having however in the first instance cast a rapid glance of scrutiny around, to make sure that no police-constable was nigh. It required no prompt- ing beyond what their own common sense sug- gested, to enable the two officers to judge that both the marine-store dealer’s and the rag-shop were in reality receptacles for stolen goods, and that it was for the accommodation of their patrons they thus kept open so late. Mindful of the friendly constable’s advice, Cap- tain Stanley and Lord Charles Meredith affected to be somewhat the worse for liquor as they ad- vanced within the sphere of light. “Where the deuce have our wandering steps brought us ?” exclaimed Stanley, purposely speak- ing loud enough to be overheard by the loiterers in front of the two houses of entertainment. “T have no more idea than the man in the moon,” responded Lord Charles. “It was all owing to that last bottle of wine tf “Well, never mind!” cried Stanley, with a well-assumed manner of devil-me-care rakishness. “ We must get somewhere at last—that’s very cer- tain.” They were now both surrounded by the flaunt- ingly dressed women whose bullies and flash men purposely hung back, thinking it better to keep aloof until the girls should have got the “swells” in regular tow. —_— EO JOO “S (C(O)