Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

ae THE PRINCE, MEAGLES, LADY LETITIA 255 ) “ And very proper, too,” remarked the Amazon, totally unmindiul of the little circumstance that she was born of parents who were beggars, and in a miserable garret in Lukner’s Lane, St. Giles’s. “Well,” resumed the prince, ‘I went to the place of appointment — it was the George and Blue Boar, Holborn; and on arriving there, I ordered the landlord, who im- mediately recognized me, to show me to a private room. Conceive my annoyance when I learned that there was not an apartment unoccupied throughout the establishment: the entire building was full of guests. Even the landlord’s own parlour was engaged for a supper-party. There was no help for it, and I was compelled to repair to the com- mercial room, having previously informed the landlord that 1f any one called to inquire for a Mr. Jenkins, the individual was to be conducted straight to me. I had not been long seated in the travellers’ room, as they call it, when I observed, as I was sipping my rum punch, that an insolent rascal of a bagman was surveying me in a very peculiar fashion; and he presently had the impertinence to intimate that he was not unaware who I was. Vainly did I endeavour to rebuke him by reminding him that the mere fact of my being there at all was a sufficient indication of my desire to escape vulgar notice. The scoundrel was unabashed, and boldly. declared that my words had confirmed his suspicion relative to my identity. Indignant and dis- ceusted, repenting, too, of my folly in going thither under any circumstances whatsoever, and observing by the clock that it was considerably past the hour when Foster was to meet me, I quitted the tavern abruptly; but, knowing how absolutely necessary it was to make immediate arrange- ments with that same Foster, in order to prevent him from calling and dunning at Carlton House, I resolved to proceed to his own private residence. I accordingly took a hackney-coach in Holborn; but when some distance up the Edgeware Road, in which neighbourhood Foster dwells, I became aware that I was pursued. Instantly suspecting some freak arising from the impertinence of the bagman, and fearing lest a disturbance might ensue and obtain publicity, thereby causing unpleasant mention to be made of my name, I alighted, dismissed the coach, and took refuge in the nearest house.”’ ws GOMmiicdooks (F(©)