The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

202 THE COURT OF LONDON you, and for which the other five hundred guineas shall be placed in your hands when I meet you on the bridge to-night. And now, before you utter a word in reply to my proposals, let me tell you that if you do undertake this night’s service you must beware of treachery. For were you to receive my gold and then keep the boy with you still, in the hope of making him the pretence and means of future exactions, I will find a way to wreak a deadly vengeance upon you. Therefore let us understand each other well.” ‘Your Royal Highness needn’t fear. I will be staunch to the backbone,” exclaimed the Hangman. ‘“ Of course I don’t mind as long as I know the lad is to be properly dealt with.” ‘He shall be amply and honourably provided for in the Colonies,” rejoined the prince. ‘‘ It was at first my intention to have him taken from you without your knowledge, and to keep you in ignorance of what ultimately became of him, but, on maturer reflection, I resolved — seeing that he had lived with you so long — to deal frankly and candidly with you. I have now done so, and I offer you a large, a very large reward.” ‘““ And I sha’n’t prove ungrateful for the kindness you have shown,” said the Hangman. ‘“ As a matter of course,’’ observed the prince, a thought striking him, “ you will not mention to the young man a single word beforehand. You will not in any way excite his suspicion relative to the proceedings that are this night to take place with regard to him.” “Trust me,’’ exclaimed Coffin. “I shall know how to invent some excuse to make him stay in the recess of the bridge till I go back to fetch him again, and as for getting him in a boat down as far as the receiving-ship, that will be easy enough, for I have often taken him on queer expeditions the object of which he has never known till the time came. All that can be easily managed. The deuce of it is, what am I to say afterward to my young woman and her brother about his disappearance? ”’ ‘Say that he has run away,” cried the prince, “ or been killed in some scuffle.” “Well, I suppose I shall find an excuse,’’ observed the Hangman. ‘‘ Has your Royal Highness anything more to say? ” Gomicbdooks (E(@)