The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

— ‘terrible duellist in all London: THE MYSTCRIES OF LONDON. \ y . “a om _ 2 CS SE oF, ee ae | aw ea a “= —_ ‘ 25, SOS apes i ' mee ig ~ NUL ST ae ote wi he eh , ’ t ita a S295 = —— | fixed, ‘ that it would be more in accordance with tho rules of military etiquette if you were to give the first explanations—seeing that I have the honour to hold a higher rank than yourself in her Muajesty’s service.’ ‘* And, be the holy poker-r!” ejaculated Captain O’Blunderbuss, fiying into a passion: “that re- mains to be proved ! { There’s many a discharged pore poral that dubs himself colonel, to my know- e e 33 e PAnd there’s many 2 discharged ead to an omnibus that calls himself——” But Colonel Tickner suddenly stopped short : for Captain O’Blunderbuss started from his seat, and, grasping the poker, exclaimed, “ Be this holy i in- sthrument, I shall be afther daling ye a gintle tap on the head, my frind,if ye dar-r to utther a wor-r-d derogatory to my honour-r-r!”’ Colonel Tickner stared in ghastly silence at the ferocious Irishman; and to add to the disinay of the former, Frank Curtis, who relished the pro- ceeding hugely, whispered hastily in hia ear, ‘' For God’s sake, don’t provoke him! He’s the most he shot the Duke of Boulogne last year at Paris.” No 74* —Mysrerics oF Lonpon. hos ff ger ‘ : (, fy SS . ee ee eer earnepmyrae ORE SO OF RE 2 Gown nanos Ss = == Soars a == = Tear aD PLD Se aml “T really——did not——in fact, it was very far from my intentions——’”’ stammered the dis- comfited colonel, casting 2 glance towards the door, to ascertain if there wero any possibility of escape; but, alas! that was out of the question. “Nothing but 2 mating, or the most abject apology will suffice!” vociferated Captain O’Blun- derbuss, perceiving that he had completely over- awed his antagonist. ‘ Irank, my frind, rnn over to our lodgings and fetch my pisthols—in the box covered with green baize, you know—and, be the ‘power-rs! we’ll fight it out across the table, each houlding the ind of a handkerchief :—that is to say, with Mr. Scales’ lave and per-r-mission.”’ “Oh! I shan’t interfere,” said the Brother, en- joying the sceneas muchas Mr. Frank Curtis, ‘who rose from his chair as if to depart for the purpose of executing the commission respecting tho pistols. ‘s Really, gentiemen,”’ stammered Colonel Tick- ner, piancing in bewilderment and dismay from one to the other: ‘‘I—I am sure—I did not——”’ **Did ye mane to insult me?’ demanded the captain, brandishing the poker, while his aspect seemed to acquire increased ferocity every moment. ‘**No—no—certainly not,” responded the colonel, (C(O) \G DOO SS (SO)