The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

98 THE COURT OF LONDON some treachery, and I will put a bullet into you with as little ceremony as if you was a mad dog that had bit me.” As she spoke she withdrew the pistol from its alarming contact with the commercial traveller’s face; but at the same instant its ominous click fell upon his ears, as if to warn him that the Gallows’ Widow did not waste her words in idle threats. He was horror-struck at the ferocious character which the woman had thus displayed so suddenly. Her pale, pensive, and even mild countenance appeared totally incompatible with such a daring and desperate spirit; and her manner was so reserved and subdued that it seemed impossible for her disposition to arouse itself to such a terrible energy. While Page was making these reflections, which stole upon him in spite of the alarm that he now experienced, nearly ten minutes had elapsed; and during that interval not another soul had passed along the street. “We will go now,” said the Gallows’ Widow, at last. They accordingly emerged from their place of conceal- ment, and turned into Horslydown. Page was more than half-inclined to give his companion the slip and rush away as quickly as his legs might carry him; for he did not at all admire the circumstances which had just occurred. But no sooner had the thought of escape risen up in his mind, when innumerable reasons suggested themselves against it. He dreaded the wrath of Mr. Hodson, he feared to lose his employment in that individual’s service, he longed to gain a share of the reward for capturing Joe the Magsman, and he trembled lest his formidable female companion should send a bullet whizzing after him, were he to raise her suspicions by attempting to decamp. But he was still balancing which course to pursue, when the woman suddenly observed, ‘‘ Here we are,’’ and as she pushed Page gently on in front, he mustered up all his courage and entered the notorious boozing-ken. CORMICLOO