The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

OF LONDON, 147 rious box, followed them at the distance of about twenty paces. Thisperson was Tyrrel, the blind man. There were still four persons in the box, who kept their eyes clusely fixed to four holes, which had been made in the screen, similar to that which had served Snail as a spyglass, and were attentively watching the duke’s box. It was about this time, that Brian de Lancas- ter was attracting the attention of the whole au- dience. A few minutes afterward came the rush of the half price multitude. Snail and his com- panion, were at that moment within a foot of the stage box. Attention ! said the latter, whispering to Snail, and almost immediately afterward, when the tu- mult created by the half price was at its height, he added—to work! He disappeared, and the blind man took his station. Snail knocked resolutely at the door of the duke’s box. He hada paper in hishband. My lady, said he respectfully, the duke has sent me to your ladyship, and has desired me to deliver this message to you. He held the letter toward her, and Lady B— held out her hand to receive it. But at the moment her fingers touched the paper, Snail caught ber hand with a firm grasp, and with the most surprising coolness endea- voured to get possession of the ring which had been pointed out to him. He had not deceived himself; he had perfectiy comprehended his in- structions. Lady B— was so much terrified by this strange attack, that she could not at first find breath to | utter evena word, When she had ReCOVERSE her Comicbooks:com)