The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

THE HEIR APPARENT AND HIS AGENT = 15 “There isn’t a better gal in all the world, though I say it, than the Shickster. Why, you may judge for yourselves, I think. Hasn’t she given us every information of all wot has been passing at the Pages’ house for the last month, — indeed, from the first day she succeeded in getting herself taken into their service as a maid of all work; and isn’t it through her that we’re awake to the dodge that’s being practised to-night at their house? Ah! Mr. Page little thinks that the dirty drab he once saw with her arms around my neck at the Kinchen-Ken in Grub Street is the same neat and tidy-looking gal which has been in his service for the last month. And it was a lucky thing, too, that Julia and Shickster Sal had never knowed each other. But here she is, by jingo!”’ This ejaculation was elicited by the entrance of that same young creature whom we introduced to our readers in a very early chapter of this narrative and whom we represented at the time to have received the flash name of Shickster Sal from the circumstance of having been tenderly brought up until she was enticed away from home and plunged into the loathsome vortex of profligacy. Her appearance was now much altered; she was apparelled with neatness, her person was cleanly, and she was far from being an ill-looking young woman. The respectable nature of her early training had enabled her to take with a prompt aptitude to the duties of the domestic situation which she was now filling in Mr. Page’s house; and her blind infatuation toward the Kinchin-Grand rendered her a suitable agent to carry out the designs of those who had suggested her introduction into that establish- ment. “ Well, my dear Sal,” exclaimed her paramour, welcoming her with a caress; ‘‘ what news? ” “ It’s all right,” returned the young woman. ‘“ Miss Clarendon partook of the drugged wine, and the prince has this moment arrived.”’ “Then there’s no time to be lost!” said Carrotty Poll, springing from her seat. ‘“‘ Lead the way, Sal, — there’s a dear, — and we’ll follow at a little distance.’’ | “ You'll come around to the back gate, mind,” was the injunction now given by Shickster Sal; “ and don’t be more than a couple of minutes after me.”’ She then hurried away, and the three accomplices whom CONnNIECLOOKS (SO)