The Mysteries of London; or, Revelations of the British Metropolis — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

—— eS = in TEREST pee MYSTERIES them. Put on your best looks, together with yout? best attire, so that my brethren may call me a_ happy father. Would you not be glad ‘to see Rehoboam again ? asked my father. A year had elapsed since I had seen the poor dumb lad, who was separated from me at the same time that Temperance had left us. I had so few things to remember, Brian, that those [ had were dear to me, I expressed my joy at the hope of again seeing Rehoboam. Come, then, said my father, taking me by the hand. He took me through a door epposite the one that led into his boudoir, and instead of entering the dining room, which it communicated with, he opened a small door in the wainscoting between them, I did not suspect the existence of such a door. We went through a very narrow passage, lighted by alamp, and after walking about a dozen steps, came to the foot of a staircase, which was as steep as aladder. Go up, Susannah, go up, said Ishmael; Rehoboam lives up yonder. I climbed up stairs without feeling any alarm, my curiosity being so much excited. When we got to the second story, which must have been the third of the house, as this mysterious staircase began at the first fleor, my father tapped gently — at a low door, which was almost immediately — opened. Before entering it, he looked at meand © smiled; but this time I could perceive, beneath — his » raillery, that he felt alarm. Susannah, said i he to me, in a low tone, at once boasting and bitter, this is my working study, I am about to | bas tell se & secret, my “im ae the day followin 7B comieusles ope et eae ma