The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 399: what you’re looking at

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

FRESH PERILS odd would prove the beacon of hospitality as well as the harbinger of safety for the rest of the night, Sir Douglas increased his pace; but still he was compelled to advance with con- siderable caution, lest in the deep darkness which enveloped him he should fall into some pit, pond, or ditch. In about ten minutes he reached a stile, over which he clambered; and he now found himself in what appeared to bea narrow lane, on the other side of which, exactly facing the stile, stood a small building from one of whose lower windows glimmered the light that had guided him thither. He advanced up to the door; and now through the darkness of the night he beheld an object hanging, darker than the darkness, over his head. For the moment an indescribable feeling of alarm thrilled coldly through his frame, for it struck him that it was a human corpse thus suspended overhead. But the next instant he perceived by its shape, and also by the creaking sound it sent forth, that it was nothing more nor less than the projecting sign of an inn, or, rather, ale-house. Encouraged by this discovery in proportion as he had just previously been terrified, the baronet felt assured of obtaining an asylum for the rest of the night; and on knocking at the door it was almost immediately opened by a stout, red- faced man, with rubicund nose and a drunken leer, both alike indicating a love of strong liquor. There could con- sequently be no mistake that this was the landlord, and Sir Douglas at once requested accommodation for the night. *““ Well, I don’t exactly know how that can be,’’ answered the Boniface, keeping the door only half-open, with his own burly form filling up the interval, while the light from within streamed with a sort of Rembrandt effect upon the baronet, whose personal appearance was thus plainly visible to the landlord. ‘““ How do you mean you do not know whether you can accommodate me? ”’ cried Sir Douglas. “ Is not this a house of public entertainment? ” “To be sure it is. The Jolly Wagoner is well knowed in these here parts; but there’s been a steeplechase in the neighbourhood to-day, and so, you see, I have got as much company as I can well accommodate.”’ ‘But is there another inn or tavern near?” asked the baronet, in a tone of deep vexation. ‘‘ No, that there isn’t,”’ returned the landlord, still keeping COMA 1DOO (C(O)