The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXIII MEAGLES AND THE AMAZON AT THE BOOZING-KEN NEARLY two hours had elapsed since the return of the Big Beggarman, Carrotty Poll, and the Kinchin-Grand to the vile den in Horslydown, when the door of that place was thrown open, and Tim Meagles, accompanied by the Amazon, entered the horrible place. For an instant the eyes of all the revellers present were turned upon Meagles, whose dashing, offhand appearance and frank, good-humoured countenance disposed them com- pletely in his favour; but the next moment every look was riveted upon his companion, whose ample bust proclaimed her to be a woman, in spite of her masculine attire. And well indeed might they gaze with admiration upon the huntress, for never had a more splendid creature burst upon their view. The cold night air had imparted the rich- est carnation glow to those cheeks that looked so firm and soft; and her fine large dark eyes, so clear and bright, seemed to swim in a living lustre. The black brows, well divided and rather full than thin, set off the stainless white on her high and noble forehead; her coral lips, on which a good- tempered smile was playing, half-revealed the pearly teeth; and her luxuriant hair, dark as night, and glossy as the raven’s wing, showered in a myriad curls upon her shoul- ders. Then her bearing was so graceful and elegant, the garb which she wore so admirably became her symmetrical form, and her shape was characterized by so much unre- strained lightness, that she was all which one might expect to meet in a daring huntress who was likewise a charming woman. Such a character was well calculated to win the admira- tion of the men, and even of the women, who were assembled 324 COMMICMOOKSa