The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

THE BEGGAR’S STAFF 63 himself. First, howsomever, I suppose he’ll stand a bottle of wine? ” ‘ With great pleasure,” observed Page, thrusting his hand into his pocket. “ Port — eh?” said the landlord. A sign in the affirmative was made by the Gallows’ Widow, to whom the query was addressed; and the Big Beggarman speedily produced the wine. Then, having placed glasses on the table, he took a chair, bidding Page imitate his ex- ample. “And now, my good sir,” said the bloated fellow, after having filled the glasses, ‘‘ you will perhaps taste the lush and then favour us with an explanation relative to this wisit.”’ “ The wine is good,’”’ observed the commercial traveller, setting down the glass which he had emptied, and paying a compliment to the port which it was far from deserving. “ But to come to business, I must ask what guarantee I have that you won’t peach against me for anything I am going to say, supposing you and your friends refuse to join in the matter.” “This isn’t the shop where it’s necessary to put such questions, my good gentleman,” responded the Beggarman. “ Three inches of cold steel under the ribs is the reward we give for treachery, and as the Thames runs pretty handy, there’s no difficulty in disposing of the dead ’un.” “ Well, I will trust you,” said Page, who had appeared to hesitate only for the purpose of giving a better colour to the part he was playing. “ The truth is, ?m a commeréial traveller—” »* ‘In the employ of Hodson and Morley of Wood Street,”’ interrupted the Beggarman; “‘ and your name’s Page. Go on.” “How did you know all that? ’’ demanded the bagman, in astonishment. “The pocketbook was our authority,’ answered the landlord. ‘‘ What! do you suppose we didn’t overhaul it while it was in our keeping? ”’ ‘““ Ah! — true! ”’ ejaculated Page. ‘‘ Well, the fact is that this affair of the robbery made my employers so cursed sus- picious — as it naturally might — that they insisted on going into my accounts; and I wasn’t very well prepared for the investigation.” GOMIGDOOkKS (GO)