The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 316: what you’re looking at

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

MR. RAMSEY : 313 fulfilled our bargain as far as we could. We don’t hold our- selves answerable for his escape — ’cause why, we couldn’t help it. We put him in a strong and secure place; and we knowed that we might rely upon Briggs — that’s the chap which had him in his care—as well as on our own selves. He wouldn’t sign the paper which you and Mr. Martin had drawn up, and that was no fault of our’n neither. But we should have kept him in the cellar till he did; and if he’d held out much longer, we meant to have starved him into compliance. Now, then, you perceive that we did our dooty toward you and your partner as well as we was able; and we don’t see that anythink fresh or new which you may want us to have done or to do for you should be executed free gratis for nothink.”’ “ Your observations are periectly just and your reasoning is correct,” said Ramsey. ‘ We are prepared to pay you well for what you must do next.” “In that case, we sha’n’t have no quarrels,” remarked the Big Beggarman. ‘ But how go on matters at Ayles- bury? We saw by yesterday morning’s paper that Lady Stamford was not dead, that she was not even mortally wounded, and that the coroner’s inquest was held to examine into the cause of the fire, and not the death of the lady, as was at fust reported.” “Tt is all these circumstances which render it so necessary that Sir Richard Stamford should either be got out of the way — or else put out of the way,’’ returned Ramsey, again fixing a look of dark and sinister meaning upon the counte- nance of the Beggarman. ‘‘ The coroner’s inquest has de- cided,” he continued, “‘ that the fire was the result of acci- dent, caused by a candle being upset on the supper-table. Thus, the charge of arson no longer presses against Sir Rich- ard Stamford. Then again, a surgical opinion declares that the wound was inflicted on Lady Stamford with her own hand, and therefore the accusation of murder is likewise quashed.”’ . “ But the forgeries, Mr. Ramsey, the forgeries?’’ ex- claimed the Beggarman. “Perhaps the less we say on that subject the better,” was the reply, delivered in a sombre and gloomy tone. “ But it is useless to remain here, idly conversing on these matters,’ he continued, his tone suddenly becoming impa~ CONnnicloool|Ks (EO)