The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

306 THE COURT OF LONDON is it to be? ’’ he demanded, again appealing to his confederate on the box. “Oh, let your young woman manage it,”’ replied Bencull. ‘Be it so,” said the Buttoner; then addressing himself in hasty and imperious terms to the baronet, he continued: ‘Now, sir, you will give your servants orders to pay a hundred guineas to the bearer of a letter from you to that effect to-morrow morning, and you will tell them that if so be the young woman doesn’t come back with the money by one o’clock to-morrow aiternoon, we shall take it for granted that there’s been foul play and that she’s been took into custody; so that without more ado we shall draw a knife across your throat. Do you understand, sir? ” ‘“ Yes, yes, perfectly well,’ replied the baronet, uncom- monly annoyed at the turn the adventure was taking, and inwardly cursing himself for not having surrendered up his jewelry without the suggestion of a compromise. ‘‘ But you surely don’t intend to hold me as a hostage until to-morrow afternoon? ’’ he said, in a tone that betrayed his vexation. “ By jingo, but we do, though,’’ exclaimed the Buttoner. ‘So no more palaver, but give your orders to your servants, and let the carriage depart. 8 ‘Well, since there is no help for it, be 1t as you say,” observed the baronet, with a philosophical resignation to an adventure which, after all, threatened to be more incon- venient than perilous. Then, addressing himself to the footman, he said, ‘‘ James, you have heard what has taken place, and you will tell the housekeeper to pay the hundred guineas to any person who shall present a letter from me to-morrow morning to that effect. You will likewise tell Mrs. Baines that the person presenting such letter is to receive no molestation nor hindrance.” The footman promised a faithful attention to his master’s orders; whereupon Bencull relieved that lackey and the coachman from the terrors of his presence on the box and the imminence of his pistols, and the instant he alighted the carriage drove rapidly away. The whole of this scene did not occupy above five minutes, the colloquy which has taken us so long to record having passed with all the haste and hurry of the accompanying excitement. And now, while the carriage was proceeding on its course, GoOmicdoo Ss (E(0)