The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

32 THE COURT OF LONDON the murder of that fine young woman who was now leaning on his arm. They continued their way in silence, and in a few minutes reached the dark crib. Bencull opened the street door, and the moment Nell Gibson entered the back room, she per- ceived by the looks of the Hangman, the Mushroom Faker, and the Durrynacker that something was ominously amiss. Turning toward the Buttoner for an explanation, she saw that the expression of his countenance was dogged and sombre as if marked with the iron impress of some stern resolve; and then as her glance, now keen with augmenting terror, travelled to the features of Bencull as he came in last and closed the room door behind him, she read her doom, as it were, in the looks of that dreadful man. But not choosing to anticipate any evil, — and indeed utterly unable to conjecture whence it could spring so as to assume an aspect at all menacing toward herself, — she said, in that tone of inquiry which an accomplice adopts when demanding an explanation as a right, ‘‘ Now will you tell me what has been the result of this night’s enterprise? ”’ “Tis for you to tell us what Larry Sampson gave you for betraying the plot!’’ exclaimed the Hangman, in a voice of thunder, as he turned his ferocious looks full upon the now really dismayed and startled young woman. ‘Yes, how much did you get?’”’ demanded Bencull, with equal ferocity of voice and look. ‘‘ Whatever may have happened, I did not betray you — I swear that I did not!” said Nell Gibson, now recovering somewhat of her presence of mind, while indignation deepened the colour upon her cheeks to the ruddiest glow. ‘IT knew she would deny it,’”’ said the Hangman, his eyes literally glowing upon her. ‘‘ Why, you she-devil! Larry Sampson has not only balked us and had the laugh at us, but he also knew that me, Bencull, and the Buttoner was the chaps that did the business t’other night at the baro- net’s —”’ “Yes, and he knowed all about Coffin’s intending to go and get the great book,” added Bencull, with such a con- centrated ferocity that his voice sounded like the subdued roar of a wild beast. “ T am innocent of all this,’”’ said Nell Gibson, her presence of mind rapidly failing. CONNIEIOOKS (Elo)