The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

236 REYNOLDS’ WORKS called, and which sum of thirty shillings Mother Bam- bridge coolly consigned to her own pocket. Glasses were placed upon the table, but both Stanley and Meredith were careful not to touch a drop of the wine until they had first seen Mother Bambridge and the girls empty their own glasses. Being thus satished that the liquor was not pre- viously drugged, the two officers began to drink in order to keep up appearances, and they likewise chatted away as if in a reckless strain of dissipated hilarity. Half an hour passed, and the gentlemen began to think that they had got into the midst of some adventure that was quite different from what the advising constable had anticipated, and that it was by no means of a nature to throw them in the way of the attainment of their object. But all of a sudden something was said by one of the girls, which turned all their thoughts into a new channel. “This sherry is capital,’ were the words thus spoken. ‘ Wouldn’t poor Barney like a glass? ” Rapid was the deprecating glance which Mother Bam- bridge flung upon the girl, as much as to give her to under- stand that she should not have mentioned a name which might possibly be recognized by the two gentlemen in con- nection with the newspaper report of the previous day’s trial at Liverpool, and then, with a simpering air, she said to Meredith and Stanley, “It’s a poor dear invalid brother of mine that the kind-hearted young lady is alluding to, and with your permission I will just step up-stairs to him with a glass of this wine, which 1s sure to do him good.” ‘“ By all means,’ exclaimed Lord Charles, now looking more tipsy than ever, “‘and send out to get us a fresh supply.” | Thus speaking, he in his turn tossed from a well-filled purse a couple of sovereigns upon the table, and Mother Bambridge, having given a suitable order to the servant, poured out a2 glass of wine, and therewith quitted the room. The reader wil comprehend the significancy conveyed by the words of the girl who had recommended the wine to be carried up to the man whom she had named. It was to afford Mrs. Bambridge a feasible pretext for leaving the room in order to make whatsoever arrangements she might deem necessary for the plunder of her guests, and all this without the risk, as it was hoped, of exciting their suspicions. Mere- CONNIE DOO KS m