The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 307: what you’re looking at

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

290 THE COURT OF LONDON say that Nell Gibson’s surprise soon became commingled with alarm and dismay; for there were many episodes in her career which she had hitherto fancied to be utterly unsus- pected by the myrmidons of Justice, but which, from what the Hangman now told her, were indeed too well known to Larry Sampson. It was true that, save and except her share in the attempt to murder the officer when disguised as a knife-grinder, there was no enormous crime which could positively and unquestionably be brought home to her; otherwise, perhaps, Larry would not have allowed her to remgin at large so long. But it was quite clear that he knew more about her than was pleasant to be thus known, and that such knowledge of her antecedents would render her future career an object of constant suspicion and surveillance, thereby planting, as it were, a thousand hidden dangers in her way. When, therefore, the Hangman proposed that she should embark in some enterprise the aim of which was nothing less than the murder of the Bow Street officer, she experienced no compunction in giving a prompt and even cheerful assent to the scheme. Coffin then proceeded to develop his views, in the discussion of which the extraordinary keenness and astuteness of the young woman afforded no inconsiderable help, leading to many practical suggestions of importance to the infernal project. Finally, after a lengthened delibera- tion, the Hangman and Nell Gibson came to a complete understanding together; and the former, taking leave of Mother Young’s establishment, returned to the dark crib in Jacob’s Island, to report to Bencull the success of his mission. But little did either Daniel Coffin or Nell Gibson suspect that throughout their private interview and important colloguy, old Mother Franklin, the toothless harridan belonging to Mrs. Young’s establishment, had been listening eagerly and breathlessly at the keyhole of the parlour door. CONNIE NCO KS (E(0)