The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

368 THE COURT OF LONDON Instead, therefore, of rushing out in pursuit of the fugitive, the Buttoner turned back from the threshold of the hut, and faced Nell Gibson just as she reached the bottom of the stairs down which she had followed him. ‘‘ You see this swell cove has escaped,”’ he said, fixing his eyes upon her with a keenness that appeared to penetrate her through and through. ‘““T see it indeed,’’ she answered, encountering his gaze with an unwavering steadiness, although upon her cheek there seemed to be a slight, slight changing of colour, and on the lips the least, least twitching of nervousness. ‘““ What did you say to him just now, Nell? ”’ inquired the Buttoner, scarcely knowing what to think, but, at all events, too uncertain as to her manner to feel justified in accusing her pointblank on the spot. ‘“T merely asked him whether he was sure that the money would be paid to-morrow morning,” replied Nell, perceiving that she was suspected, but still maintaining an air of perfect self-possession; “‘ and when he had assured me that there would be no mistake on that head,’ she continued, ‘“T asked him whether he chose to lie down to rest or to partake of any refreshment.” “And that was all that took place?”’ said the Buttoner, still keeping his eyes steadily fixed upon her. “That was all,’’ she answered, the colour neither coming nor going now upon her cheeks, nor her lip betraying even the slightest uneasiness. ‘“‘ But whatever mischief may follow from this escape,’’ she observed, in a tone of vexation mingled with reproach, ‘‘ you and the others have only got yourselves to thank for it. You should have made the door fast, and not left the bird an opportunity to fly out of his cage.” ‘‘ By jingo! what you say is true enough, Nell,” exclaimed the Buttoner, feeling how justly merited was the remon- strance; then, advancing to the door, which still stood wide open, he listened with suspended breath, while with straining eyes he endeavoured to penetrate the pitchy blacknessiof the night. ‘‘ Well, can you hear anything? ”’ asked the young woman, as he turned back again from the door, leaving it, however, wide open. “Nothing, not even the rustling of the branches,”’ he CORMICLOOOKS (€(0) im