The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

250 large enough to contain his ample person, Mr. Justice . i j ’ i i » Bumpos was actively engaged in listening to the | filling, | various night-charges brought before him; and woe to the friendless wretch who could not fee his son-in- law, Lawyer Thicket, to plead for him; right or wrong, he was sure to be committed; while the hard- ened thief who could grease his partner’s palm—for law and justice divided the profits on these occasions —was sure to escapé, tnless the parties were very persevering, and the ease one of a very serious nature. “ Well, Tibbs,” exclaimed the worshipfil occupier of the great chair to his crgen who nbs with little Maybird; “ what have you got ahs ae A brat, your vurchip, that seed & pocket picked.” “Saw a pocket picked!” exclaiined his st i who happened to bein a good humour, for thé fet bad been tumbling in pretty fast} * ated ye ess he was blind, how he could very We have helped that. Let the varmint go.” “ Yes, pray let me go,” sobbed Maybitd, | “Please your vurchip, but I dare not; my Lord Erringcourt gave him fm charge, and bade me tell your vurchip that he Would be here in the morning to persecute hith, It seems he knows where the thief lives, and woi’é &plit.” : “ Wou’t he?” toared thé magistrate; “ we shall see that. Put him at the bar. Hold him up if his head | gia is not tall hough to seé over it.” _ | Itis astenisviig how many children’s heads, fifu- ratively speaking, are held up at the bar, Such is the inevitable law Of natire in the moral training of mankind ; rege | “Now then” said the Worshipful Mr. Bimpos, putting on the Haost tettific of his professional frowns, “tell me, you little desperate Villain, what is your name?” “ Maybird,” meekly answered the child. “ Maybird! Maybird!” repeated the magistrate; “who ever heard of seh a name for 4 Christian child? —but, perhape,” he added, “ the little wretch is not a Christian.” * Most likely not, your Vurchip.” “ Did you see a boy pick 4 gentlemai’s pocket ?” « Yes,”’ answered the prisone? meekly, The magistrate’s frown relaxed; he thought that he had frightened him sufficiently for bis purpose, for, like all cringing things, he would have run any length to curry favour with the great. ** And what is the young rascal’s name?” Maybird was silent. * VV here does he live?” Still no answer. “You won’t speak, won’t you, young gallows-bird !’ roared the incensed justice; “umph! Ili find a way to make you. Tibbs, take him to the gaoler, and direct him te administer five-and-twenty lashes upon —you know where; and then bring him before me again,” “ By what authority, and by what law, sir, do you give such an order?” demanded Digby, who had just entered the office and overheard the brutal direction. “ Well!” exclaimed Bumpos, “that beats Newgate! Long as I have sat here, I never heard such an impu- dent question before. Officers,” he added, “secure that fellow. Doubtless he is the padrone of the young prig who escaped, He looks like a highwayman or a returned transport.” “ You had better reflect twice before you give such an order,” said Digby, coolly; “it might cause you to be removed from that chair, which your THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, : brutality towards a child proves you are incapable of | “Incapable! Hell and blazes! have I sat all these | years in it to be called incapable!” uttered the in- censed justice, scarcely able to articulate his words, “Why don’t you put him in the bar—damn ye!” The last part of the speech was addressed to Tibbs — the officer, to whom, from his constant attendance at Westminster, the person of Digby was familiar. With — a hasty stride he appro&eched the mayistrate’s chair, | and began whispering something in his ear, Mean- while the eccentric but huthane speculator in human nature approached the dock, and taking Maybird by — the hand, drew hiin gently from it. He felt disgusted — ni aot innocence within its polluting precincts, | he child felt that the hand which removed him was — a friendly one, and looking up into the countenance of | his protector, thankéd him with a look, Children | always have an instinctive perception of those who either love or hate them, | “But até you quite sure?” démanded the crest- | fallen Bu op of the official who had enlightened | hith as to Digby's real character and station, | “Take my oath On it, He onee gave mea guineas | to tet an ofange-worhan off who had been given in | peng he insulting two fie ladies who called her an No sooner was the bustling fanctionary convinced | of the identity of the Mego whom he had lately | ordered to be placed within thé bar, than his bluster- | ifig tone was promptly peer gg one of oily smooth- | ness, and he blandly invited hitt to take a seat upon | the bench beside him the test Of the officials looked | on in 9 aie Oe Ke | “I shall do no of the kind,” replied Di : haughtily, for he eoiila Ua hatighty to te cas el worthless, “I am not here to bandy ridiculous come | pliments, but to dethiid the freedorn of that innocent | child—to see him released from the contaminating | associations of the lock-up house.” | * But he knows the pickpocket,” observed the mor- | tified magistrate.” “So do you, I dare say,” observed the cynie—“g . great many, and much more intimately than he pos- } sibly can. Iam a witness that he was not present at | the attempt upon my uncle’s purse, or at least,” he | added, correcting himself, from bis natural love of | truth, “ that he was not near him.” . ‘*But who is to take charge of him?” demanded | Bumpos., “ The little rascal won’t even tell where he | lives. He is as obstinate as un old gallows’ bird.” * Gallows’ magistrates make gallows’ birds,” res } joined Diguy. “ I haveno doubt but he will tell me? } A glence passed between the officials and their | chief, who began to suspect that the speaker knew | something more of Maybird than he was willing to acknowledge, and sumething was whispered about love-child, Tibbs observing to his superior that the - kid and the gentry cove were asilike each other as two peas—an observation in which Bumpos joined, 1 As there was no distinct charge against the prisoner on which he could be detained, and Digby seemed a person not likely to let the matter rest, the child, who with touching confidence still clung to his pro- | tector’s hand, was dismissed, the obsequious magistrate | making a thousand excuses for his error, and assuring the honourable member that his threat of whipping the infant had merely been made to terrify him. Without deigning a reply, Digby led his protegée from the legal den, and calling a coach, desired the man to drive towards Wacol sho 000) <5)