The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

MR. RIGDEN’S OFFICE 129 - influence of rage and disappointment at the issue of the evening’s adventures and the cheat she had endeavoured to practice upon him, might hasten and inform the officers of justice that Caroline Walters, accused as the murderess of Mrs. Lindley, was now actually in London; and therefore the young woman was environed by a thousand perils. But she did not despair of surmounting them. She had plenty of money in her pocket, — some of her own, being the accumulation of her wages while in Florimel’s service, and some which he had given her to carry out all the arrange- ments of that evening. Thus provided, she was not at a loss how to act. Taking her way, accordingly, to a shop in Wardour Street where masquerade costumes and fancy dresses were let out for hire, she knocked at the door, for the place was now closed and the shutters were up, it being past ten o’clock. The mistress of the shop answered the sum- mons, and Caroline immediately said, ‘‘ Do you remember the black page who hired the dress of a gipsy at your estab- lishment? ” : ‘‘ Some months ago, for the great masquerade at Covent Garden? ”’ observed the woman, inquiringly. “The same,’’ answered Caroline. “ Well, you must remember me, then? ”’ » ‘““Oh, yes, to be sure,’ said the woman. “ The black page was only a pretty young girl after all, because I _ helped to dress her; and you are the same. I thought your face was not unfamiliar to me, and that livery too! Besides, you behaved very liberally to me, and that is another reason why I ought to remember you. Walk in, miss, and tell me what I can do for you.” Caroline accordingly entered the house; and when she was alone with the woman in her parlour, she said, “‘ You have seen me disguised as a black page, you have helped to disguise me as a gipsy and now you behold me disguised as a white page. What garb and character can you possibly recommend that will disguise me more effectually still? ”’ ‘“You are somewhat too short for a young officer in the army, with a nice pair of moustaches,” said the woman, in a musing tone, as she contemplated the slender and symmet- rical shape of Caroline. ‘‘ But if I was to put a pair of whisk- ers on your cheeks, they would at all events give you a masculine look.’’ COU boo <S (GO)