The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

LOW LIFE IN LONDON | 23 1 with the police constable, for a certain idea had struck the first-mentioned gentleman, and he thus expressed himself: “Thanks to your assistance, constable, we have received the initiative into the various phases which the haunts of crime, vice, poverty, and debauchery exhibit. But it strikes me there must be places which such villains as those of whom we are in search would specially seek under existing circumstances, and whence the very first glimpse of a police officer’s uniform would scare them away. Now, are not these likewise places into which it may be possibly sought to inveigle those well-dressed persons who might chance to be in the neighbourhood? ”’ ‘“ Yes, there are such places,” replied the constable, “‘ but, it would be next to madness for you to seek to penetrate into them. You would risk your life, but even if you escaped with that, you might reckon with certainty upon being robbed and ill-treated.’’ “ Nevertheless,” rejoined Captain Stanley, ‘‘ only show me such a place as we have been speaking of, and I will risk everything.” “ And I assuredly am not the man to flinch from stieh danger,’ said Lord Charles Meredith. ‘‘ But there is one thing to be thought of. If it be possible for us to obtain ad- mission to such a place, would not the detectives themselves assume a particular apparel and penetrate thither? ”’ ‘“’ Bless you, sir,’ answered the constable, ‘‘ those kind of villains would recognize the detectives in a moment, no matter how disguised. They are keen and cunning enough to distinguish between real gentlemen, such as you are, and other persons dressed up to play the part of gentlemen. That you can get into these haunts of which we are speaking, there is little doubt; indeed you are pretty sure to be in- vited there by those who would at once mark you as their prey. But I again warn you of the risk you will have to run, and unless you are well armed — ” “ We took that precaution before we set out,” interrupted Captain Stanley. ‘‘ We have each a brace of double-bar- relled pistols and a good clasp-knife upon our persons.”’ “ And this stick of mine,” added Lord Charles Meredith, “ though it seems only a gentleman’s walking-cane, is a life- preserver and well loaded at the top.” ‘Then you are decided, gentlemen? ”’ asked the constable, CORNICE DOOKS (C(O)