The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

284 THE COURT OF LONDON man, not knowing exactly what to do, or whether to resent this conduct on the part of the Buttoner; but the next mo- ment, thinking it best to take his departure, he exclaimed, “ Come, stand aside and let me be off. I see very well that I am not wanted here.”’ ; But the Buttoner placed his back against the street door, saying, “‘ You can’t go,’ and at the same moment both Mrs. Young and Mother Franklin seized upon the public executioner like two tiger-cats, the elder woman, despite her great age, being, if anything, the more ferocious of the two. For an instant the Hangman was overpowered in that narrow passage, but the next moment he burst away from the two women, dashing Mrs. Young into the parlour, and trampling old Mother Franklin under his feet. Their cries were horrible, and now the Buttoner sprang at the Hangman, threw his arms around his neck, and clung to him with the tenacity of a boa-constrictor. They fell, struggling desper- ately, in the passage, and several females who belonged to the house of ill-fame, being alarmed by the noise, came rushing down the stairs, some in a state of more than seminudity. Without comprehending the motive which led to the attack upon the Hangman, but zealous in taking the part of the mistress of the place, they at once precipitated themselves upon Coffin, against whom Mrs. Young was levelling the most horrible menaces. But the Hangman was not yet overpowered. He pos- sessed a lion’s strength, and was now as desperate as the maddened beast itself when the hunters hold it at bay. With — one tremendous effort he shook off the female furies who had pounced upon him, released himself from the grasp of the Buttoner, and with the iron heel of his great thick boot dealt that individual such a blow that left him senseless upon the floor, where he lay. Another instant and the Hang- man’s hand was upon the latch of the street door, but again did the females from up-stairs dart upon him, while Mrs. Young herself reappeared from the parlour, armed with the poker. | Through the posse of furies rushed the Hangman, scatter- ing them in the passage as a bull dashes aside right and left a crowd when careering through it; and in another moment the formidable weapon was wrenched from Mrs. EORMGIOO S (C(O) im