The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

THE MILLINER AND HER MASTER 79 Fanny,” interrupted Frederick Dray. ‘I am not ignor- ant of what you have had to contend with on that score.” . “Yes, and on others likewise,’’ added Mrs. Brace, with a tone of bitter anguish. “ Surely you have not forgotten those two vile women who came some weeks ago — ”’ ‘‘ Elizabeth Marks and Poll Price, I think they called themselves, eh?’’ observed the ex-footman. ‘‘ Well, they asked us about Mobbs, and if it hadn’t been for your cursed trembling and stammering, I should have thrown them completely off the scent.” ‘““ How absurdly you talk, Frederick,’’ said the milliner, in a low and hollow whisper, ‘‘ when you must remember that those women already knew too much, that they had heard from Mobbs sufficient to convince them that Grumley had experienced foul play beneath this roof — Nay, more,’’ continued Mrs. Brace, horror convulsing her form and render- ing her countenance hideously ghastly, “ they said they could even point out the place where Grumley was in- terred — ”’ ‘‘ Well, and you gave them five hundred pounds to setie them hold their tongues,’ interrupted Frederick Dray. ‘‘ Nothing was more simple: they came to extort money, they had us in their power, your fears confirmed all their suspicions, and so we were obliged to shell out.” “ And think you that those women will not come back again?’ asked Mrs. Brace. “I tell you that we are sur- rounded by a myriad dangers, that perils and perplexities of all kinds environ us, and that they will gradually close in upon us in such a manner as to render escape impossible. My God! you see, Frederick, the change that care and terror are working in me. I cannot conceal the truth from myself, I am getting prematurely old, and in a few months I shall become faded, decrepit, and gray as a woman of sixty, — I who am still in the prime of life. Let us leave England, then, ere it be too late; let us proceed to America while we have yet enough left to convey us thither and establish us in some business on our arrival. Here — in this country — we are a constant prey to the extortioner. Those women will return, depend upon it, they will return shortly, and Harriet will likewise prove a drag upon us. Say, then, Frederick, shall we fly together — “Give me four and twenty hours to consider upon it, © COMNMUG OVO) <S (EO)