The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

A COMPROMISE ‘* Silence, woman! ” 249 ejaculated the milliner, in a tone that was rather hysterically sharp than imperiously prompt. ‘Mr. Grumley,” she immediately said, turning toward the constable, ‘‘ I should wish to avoid the scandal that will be entailed upon my establishment by the exposure of the fact that this woman was arrested while paying a visit to me. At the same time,” added Mrs. Brace, ‘‘ I would not have you think that I am in any way intimidated — ”’ ‘“‘ Well, well,’ exclaimed the constable, perceiving the smile of mingled malice and triumph which slowly wreathed the lips of the Gallows’ Widow, “I see that it would be unpleasant if the world was to know that Elizabeth Marks, alias the Gallows’ Widow, was on such familiar terms of intimacy with Mrs. Brace, the fashionable dressmaker of Pall Mall, that she could introduce herself at all hours into her friend’s presence.” The milliner listened in dismay to this speech, which the constable delivered in a measured and significant tone; for it was as much as to intimate that he, Peter Grumley, had now got her, the fashionable milliner, completely into his power. And Elizabeth Marks, whose natural keenness enabled her to perceive that some compromise was about to be suggested by the Bow Street officer in her behalf, chuckled with that species of low, inward laugh which invariably sounded ominous and made the blood run cold, no matter on whose ears it fell. “‘'Yes,”’ resumed Mr. Grumley, after a brief pause during which he watched with satisfaction the effect that his it would be unpleasant for the world to know that the Gallows’ and the magistrate might even think it necessary to send for Mrs. previous speech had produced upon the milliner, “ Widow was on such intimate terms in Pall Mall; Brace and demand explanations on that point.”’ ‘“‘ Enough, enough, Mr. Grumley,”’ ejaculated the wretched milliner. ‘“‘ Name the conditions upon which you will suffer this woman to take her departure.” ‘“ And you will comply with ’em?’’ demanded the officer, _ interrogatively. =, ~ “She will not dare refuse,” said the Gallows’ Widow, in that quiet tone which actually imparted to the observa- tion more weight and a deeper meaning than if it had been uttered with ejaculatory excitement. (x @) } KS {