The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

THE BARONET AND THE HANGMAN © 1387 ‘“‘ Perfectly so,’’ rejoined the Hangman. ‘“ And now, won’t you sit down, sir, and make yourself quite at home? ”’ The baronet accordingly took a chair, while Daniel Coffin lounged against the mantelpiece anxiously awaiting the explanation of his visitor’s business. ‘““T have reason to know,’’ resumed Sir Douglas Hunting- don, fixing his eyes upon the executioner, “that you are not altogether unacquainted with the interior of Leveson House —’’ ‘““ Ah! how the deuce did you discover that? ’”’ exclaimed. Coffin. ‘“ Never mind how I came to know it,’’ said the baronet. ‘“‘ It is sufficient for our present purpose that I am acquainted with the fact, and what is more, I have reason to believe that you are not altogether a stranger to those secret apartments in Leveson House, one of which contains the curiously con- trived armchairs.’’ “ By goles! ’”’ cried the Hangman, “‘ you seem to know all about it; and if you was ever caught in one of those chairs, you can perhaps judge how pleasant such captivity must be. But pray go on, sir, with what you was saying.” ‘““T wish to know,’ proceeded Sir Douglas, ‘‘ whether you could undertake to introduce yourself at a particular hour into Leveson House, and there lie concealed behind the cur- tains in one of the secret apartments until such time as some signal, to be previously agreed upon, should summon you forth? ”’ “There isn’t a house in London that I can’t introduce myself into somehow or another, and there isn’t a door that: I can’t open by hook or by crook. But how am I[ to know,” demanded the Hangman, “ that all this mayn’t be some plant on your part to get me into a scrape and revenge your- self for that little business down at Shooter’s Hill? ”’ “The answer is easy, both to be given and to be under- stood,” replied Sir Douglas. ‘‘ If I really had the intention of punishing you, I should not condescend to devise a trap to ensnare you, nor should I beat about the bush in a manner alike unnecessary and ridiculous; but I should at once give you into custody, and allow the law to become my avenger. But for the sake of that young woman Ellen Gibson — ”’ “ Ah! she is a nice young woman, too, notwithstanding all her faults,’ observed the Hangman, with a diabolical CoOnniclooolkks (C(O)