The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

THE OLD FENCE’S ABODE 301 once struck him that this must be old Humpage’s room, for there were several articles of clothing lying about, evidently belonging to him. But the bed had not been slept in all night. Perhaps the old man had for some reason sought another chamber, and yet the executioner could not exactly settle his mind to this belief, for his keen eye caught sight of a nightshirt and cotton nightcap lying at the foot of the bed, as if in readiness for their owner’s use. Without, however, pausing to reflect much longer upon the matter, Coffin was about to issue forth and examine the other cham- bers, when his acute ear suddenly caught the sounds of footsteps advancing, as if with tiptoe caution, along the passage. Not a moment did he deliberate how to act, but at once concealed himself under the bed, for he thought it best to ascertain if possible who were about the house at that hour, ere he made any attempt in pursuance of his murderous purpose. Scarcely was he ensconced underneath the bed when the door, which he had left ajar, was opened, and two persons (as he judged by their footsteps) entered the room. Still as death he lay in his place of concealment, and when the two individuals who had thus entered began to converse, al- though it was in low whispers, he nevertheless had not the slightest difficulty in recognizing the voices of Jeremy Humpage and the Swag Chovey Bloak. (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si in