The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

9 ae , i} = Ht | i A ' \) = De . 94" i \\ /, ‘ 4” TRY v4 Ree) , ; hy Al itZ ‘ + S07 “ns "i A Ary NY WREST? ’ oy iii . \ lilt 'a'o> 1H) ~ - —— lm Rs = \ —— as Aisively VAAL i) AT SSS | : | house, a violent blow in the pit of his stomach, which so astonished his noble captor, that he suddenly re- leased his hold, and the young rascal took to his heels with a loud musical laugh, which told how heartily he enjoyed his escape. “ Why, uncle,” said Digby, who had not seen the blow, “ you have let him go.” “ Let—ugh! oh, the villain! I’!] have him hanged —hanged—if it costs me a thousand pounds. Didn’t you see him strike me?” “No. Are you much hurt?” “ 1—I-—scarcely think that I shall ever breathe freely again; but no matter, you have got the young spawn; he shall serve as a decvy to catch the other, Who is that young villain?” he demanded, turning suddenly to the child. “George,” replied Maybird, clinging involuntarily to the side of Digby. “ And where does he live?” The child was silent. “ Tell me,” continued the peer, “and I'll give you a guinea,” He held up the glittering coin as he spoke; but. a ot ctemetieertnme eats eons ne... THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. es re Eee 249 “ae ~ , e .* Pe ue re P, ~*) a — Ahega SIPS i) | i fiecmere y . I) i PST TTT] Hig || Hf} I} I wa) struck the earl, who was dragging him towards the | young as he was, Maybird was not to be tempted; he knew that George had got himself into difficulties and he could have suffered himself to have been flogged to death rather than have betrayed him; and yet Maybird was a remarkably tractable, quiet child. Neither the earl’s promises nor threats could tempt the courageous Maybird to utter a word that could complicate his brother George, whom the peer was determined, if possible, to find out and punish. He therefore dragged the child by the hand till he en- countered an officer belonging to the house, into whose charge he gave him, promising to appear the following morning at the police-office against him. “ Against such a child, my lord?” exclaimed Digby. “For shame!” The uncle, however, was resolved, and his eccen- tric nephew was equally determined, if possible, to protect the infant from his anger. He left the peer at the door of the Lords, and instead of proceeding, as he had intended, to his place in the Commons, he made his way to the office of the magistrate, who was a very different personage from those who administer justice at the present day. E whic MINES “3 (CO) Lolling in an immense easy chair, — eT Ss -