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 that I have some reason to believe the corpse of a child, a new-born infant, was thrown into the lake close by this very — jetty about three weeks ago. From what I have understood, it was wrapped in a flannel that was carefully tied around it.” ‘““ And you want it fished up for some reason or another? ”’ said Kobolt, interrogatively. ‘‘ Well, if it was sunk with a stone or anything heavy, it 1s no doubt at the bottom still, for whatever gets into what may be called the little bay, on either side of the jetty, always remains there.”’ ‘“ Well,’’ said Jocelyn, “‘ let us waste no more time in words. Yaqu liked the chink of those twenty louis so well that you would doubtless be pleased to finger another twenty. You shall do so 11 you drag me up the corpse of that child.” * The three men exchanged amongst themselves a few low and rapidly whispered observations in their peculiar argot, or slang language, which, as we have above stated, was utterly incomprehensive to our hero. This discourse only lasted for a minute, and when it was over, Kobolt, again addressing Loftus in the French tongue, said, “‘ Your request about this child is so extraordinary that I and my companions hesitate to proceed farther unless you give us some explanation. The truth is, it is like advancing in the dark. We do not see into what trouble we might get our- selves, and though we are no cowards, and not overpar- ticular what we do as long as we are well paid, yet we do not exactly choose to walk blindfold over a precipice.”’ ‘“T shall assuredly give you no explanations at all,” said Loftus. ‘“‘ If the corpse be found, I pay you for it and take it away with me. Whatever danger may result will accrue only unto me, and I am prepared to encounter it. But I do not wish you to proceed farther unless you choose. Wait until to-morrow night, and in the meantime ask Doctor Maravelli whether I am trustworthy. ‘Then uf, despite the answer you receive from him, you should still hesitate, [ can but purchase drags and come and fish, as you call it, on my own account.” Again did the three men converse together in their own flash tongue, and at the end of this second consultation Kobolt exclaimed, ‘‘ Well, we have made up our minds to run any risk there may be in this business.”’ Having thus spoken, he emerged forth from beneath the jetty, followed by his two accomplices and our hero. Deep GoOmichboo! cS (E(0)