The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

THE BARONET AND THE HANGMAN _ 139 bait. Suddenly it struck him that by entering into a scheme thus hostile to Ernestina, it would positively and actually have the effect of rendering her all the more anxious to get him out of the country; and as he had told the prince that he wanted the five hundred guineas for the purpose of emi- grating, her ladyship, on learning that such was the case, would be all the more eager to supply him with the funds for his alleged departure. Besides, suppose that Ernestina should refuse to become the prince’s messenger on the night appointed for the payment of the money on Westminster Bridge, would not his Royal Highness entrust the matter to some other person? Most assuredly; for Daniel Coffin felt that the prince would do anything rather than stand the chance of being troubled with further visits from such a person as himself. All things thus considered, the Hang- man resolved to accept Sir Douglas Huntingdon’s pro- posal. “Well, sir,’’ he said, ‘‘ I have just been thinking over the matter, and I don’t see why I shouldn’t earn a couple of hundred guineas in this way as well as another.”’ ‘From which remark,’ observed the baronet, ‘‘ I under- stand that you require two hundred guineas as your recom- pense? ”’ ‘Well, sir, I don’t think I can do it for less. You see I shall have to get into Leveson House stealthily, as one may say, or at all events, however I may manage to get in, I shall have to creep about on the sly, and so stand the chance of being shot as a burglar.” ‘IT do not object to the amount of the reward you ask,”’ interrupted the baronet. ‘‘ On the contrary, here are bank- notes and gold for a hundred guineas.’”’ Then, having counted down the money, at the sight of which the Hangman’s eyes twinkled with the sinister vibrations that are seen in those of a snake, Sir Douglas Huntingdon said, “ It is for to-night that your services are required. By eleven o’clock must you be concealed behind the draperies in one of the rooms belonging to the private suite, and when you hear me say that the public executioner himself can bear testimony to the infamies of those chambers, you must come forth from your hiding-place.”’ “Then you will be there to-night also?’ said the Hang- man, inquiringly. Cconniclooolks (C(O)