The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

222 THE COURT OF LONDON commingling of hauteur and indignation in her tone and manner. ‘“That’s just the way to say it before the magistrate, miss,’ observed Grumley, with as much coolness as if it were a mere stage rehearsal. ‘‘ His worship will then ask you what proof you have to advance, and Counsellor Sharply will probably recommend you to reserve your defence, be- cause the counsellor won’t know what my after-plans are. But you must speak out boldly and say that if the magistrate will allow you to visit the house in Fore Street where the murder was committed, you will there show the constable who shall accompany you the most striking and startling proofs of your innocence. Now, can you manage to say all this with a firm and resolute air, — an air that looks like in- nocence, you know? ” ‘“ Assuredly I can,”’ answered Caroline, ‘‘ and the more so, inasmuch as I am innocent. Oh, my God, I am really and truly innocent, or may I perish this very moment! But proceed: what next am I to do?” “Leave the rest to me,”’ answered Grumley. ‘ Only do what I have told you, and do it well, and I’ll guarantee that you sha’n’t sleep in a prison to-night. And what’s more,” added the head constable, ‘“‘ I am to give you fifty guineas for Mrs. Brace, which amiable lady has took a wery lively interest in your welfare. But mind, not a word about vengeance against the late Mrs. Lindley, nor Mrs. Brace, nor against your seducer. All that kind of palaver will do the cause no good, and may prevent the magistrate from grant- ing the request which you are to make. But here we are at his worship’s house.”’ And as Mr. Peter Grumley uttered these last words, the hackney-coach stopped. In the times of which we are writing there was no regularly established police court on the Surrey side of the metropolis, and prisoners were accordingly taken to the dwellings of the justices of the peace residing in that district. It was therefore at the private residence of a local magistrate that the present case was to be investigated. But his worship had a large room fitted up with all the miniature conve- niences similar to those which on a larger scale characterized the police office in Bow Street. And this room was crowded to excess when Caroline Walters was introduced precisely