The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “Two can play at cutting,” said Tony: “but it’s no lie, Chiffin, I can tell you. I shouldn't be togged as I am if it wasn’t true; and I shouldn't have been such a fool either, to come wandering into London again to see what's to be done, arter having tramped about in the country for these weeks past—starving and sleeping ander hedges or haystacke——” “Tf I thought you was telling me the truth,” observed Chiffin, looking very hard in Tony’s face, “I think Iyshould perhaps be inclined to forgive you. But I don’t believe a syllable of it.” “J tell you what it is, Chiffin,—you may be- peve it or not, just as you like; and as for your forgiveness, I ’¢ care a rap for it. You led me into that precious business in Agar Town ; and I have never knowed what it was to be easy in and white night-cape, and immense crowds gathered round ; and all the while a deep bell seems to be tolling in my ears. That’s always when I’m asleep ; and when I’m awake and wandering about, I'm always afeard of being suddenly grabbed by anybody I meet. I can’t look no one in the face without thinking that he surveys me just as if he was going to say, ‘ You are Tony Wilkins the mur- derer.’ So you see, Chiffin, there’s no thanks te you for leading me into that there business.” “Why, what a puling, sneaking, white-livered, chicken-hearted chap you are!” growled the Can- nibal, with a look of contempt. “I couldn’t have believed it!—a feller that was always ready fer any kind of business———” “ Aye'!—but there’s a precious deal of differ- ence,” interrupted Tony Wilkins bitterly, “be- my mind since. If I go to sleep, it’s to dream of | twixt mere prigging and other kind of job. I gibbets, end hangmen, and sheriffs, and —_— No. &4—Turep Srniss. was born and bred to prigging, as one muy say: 249 (CO an (C DOO