The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

234 THE COURT OF LONDON treat them tc the negus, — or, rather, had succeeded in obtaining it in his name, — they very freely put him in possession of the incidents of their past lives. Finally, as their tales and conversation served to while away the colonel’s time, he encouraged their garrulity by a fresh supply of negus; and in this manner did the party continue chatting and drinking until eleven re when the lights were put out in the coffee-room. Malpas then went up to bed, and the six friends strolled forth ‘‘ to make the tour of the whistling shops,” or, in other words, to visit every room where gin (prohibited by the gaol regulations) was sold on the sly. CONNIE OO KS (E(0)