The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUNGEON 123 he added, with his disagreeable chuckle, “‘ you sha’n’t be kept in durance a minute longer than the time necessary. to receive from the Beggar’s Staff a message stating that the coin has been left there.’’ ‘““T hope that the letter will prove effective,’ heaving a profound sigh as he rose from his seat. At the same instant his eyes encountered a long, thick, and well-rusted file that lay upon a chest of drawers within reach of his hand; and it flashed to his mind that many a desperate escape from even a stronger prisonage than the cellar down-stairs had been accomplished by means of a far more inefficient implement than that old tool. “ You don’t seem to be a bad sort of fellow in your way,” observed the man; “ and I think that a drop of something short would perhaps. do you good.” Thus speaking, he turned toward a cupboard in a corner of the room; and at the same moment Page secured the file about his person. Lhe man produced a gin bottle, and each partook of a dram. The commercial traveller was then directed to carry a couple of tin pots full of coffee down to the cellar, the gaoler following him with two large slices of bread; and in a few moments the two prisoners were once more together in the dungeon, the door being again secured by bolts and chains. For some time the baronet and Page continued to make their meal in profound silence; but when the latter had drained the last drop of his coffee and eaten the last mouth- ful of crust, he said, in a low, whispering tone, ‘ Do you think it would be impossible to escape from this place? ”’ “Escape!” ejaculated Sir Richard, his veins tingling with the sensation produced by the bare idea. “Hush! the very walls have ears! ’’ returned the com- mercial traveller, seizing his companion violently by the arm, for they were seated close to each other upon the straw. ‘“ Listen — and do not interrupt me. I have written the letter to old Hodson, my employer, but I do not for a mo- ment imagine that he will pay the money. At all events, he will take some time to consider the matter well, for he is one of those persons who never do anything in a hurry; and in the interval I shall catch an incurable rheumatism, or die of grief in this infernal hole. It is therefore my inten- tion to make a desperate effort to escape.” , said Page, ECOMIIE OOO SS (GO)