The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHANDLER’S SHOP 30 described; it is therefore only necessary to observe that Taggarty was a man about thirty-five years of age, thin, with a sort of shopkeeper’s stoop in his gait, and having a certain greasy appearance, as if his head were constantly coming in contact with the candles suspended over his counter, and his hands were being incessantly wiped upon his dingy apron. Upon the little round table stood a bottle of gin and three glasses; for Mr. Taggarty was regaling his visitors, while discussing with them certain matters of importance. ‘‘ And so you are quite sure that Jack didn’t peach agin the Hangman? ”’ said l'aggarty, as he refilled the glasses. ‘““1’m certain he didn’t,” replied Dick Melmoth. “ He was staying with Larry Sampson at the time, as I’ve already told you.”’ ‘‘'Then the more likely that he did blab,” observed Tag- garty. | ‘‘ How the devil could he, when I tell you that none of us knowed anything about the matter until we saw it in the papers on l'uesday morning?” exclaimed Dick Melmoth. ‘““ Neither me or Sal was told of it beforehand, and there- fore I’m sure Jack the Foundling wasn’t. Mr. Coffin kept it precious close to himself, and had no assistants except the footman who was killed.” ““ Let me see,’”’ said Taggarty, in a musing tone, “ it took place on Sunday night.” “Yes, and this is Friday,’’? remarked Melmoth. “ Jack the Foundling came home on Tuesday, as soon as he saw the affair in the paper. He sneaked away unbeknown to Larry Sampson; and the instant he came into the shop in Fleet Lane, he burst out crying, saying to Sal and me, ‘You don’t think I had any hand in this?’ We knowed what he meant, for we had just been reading the account in the paper; and we told him at once that we didn’t suspect him. He seemed quite cheered by that assurance.” “Yes, that he did,’”’ exclaimed Sal. ‘‘ I’m sure he had nothing to do with it,” and what with the effects of gin and grief, she began to whimper. “Well, it’s a bad business,” said Taggarty, shaking his head. ‘“‘ And yet there’s one consolation,’ he added, after a pause. : “ What’s that? ’”’ demanded Sally Melmoth, eagerly. (COMMUC 0)(6)(6) S (CO) am