The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

368 REYNOLDS’ WORKS The reader will remember a certain individual named Tony, Wilkins who belonged to the gang that infested Agar Town and made Solomon Patch’s house their headquarters. This Tony Wilkins was the person whom Lady Bess had especially chosen to be the bearer of the small sealed packet which she had ordered him to deliver to a gentleman at King’s Cross, and we have described him as a young man of about four and twenty, clad in a squalid garb, and with a countenance as sinister in its expression as that of any one of his wonted companions. It was this same Tony Wilkins for whom the Cannibal had been waiting, and who now at length made his appearance. ‘Well, what the deuce has made you so late?” said Chiffin, in a growling tone. ‘“ Late! It’s on’y just midnight,’’ was the response, ‘‘ and you told me as how I was to be here as the clocks was a-striking twelve, didn’t yer? ”’ “They have struck twelve at least ten minutes ago,” returned the Cannibal. ‘“ Well, ten minutes more or less,’ observed Wilkins, “isn’t no great thing. Von can’t be quite so particular.” ‘* Yes, but what was the use of keeping me trudging about here at the risk of being twigged by the blue-bottles? How- somever, we won't lose any more time. So come along.” “To tell yer the truth, Chiffin,”’ said Tony, clutching the Cannibal by the arm, “‘ I don’t over and above like this here affair. You say you’ve never been inside the premises, that you don’t know nuffin about ’em, that you ain’t got no pals among the slaveys — ”’ ‘“ But I know that there’s plenty of swag to be got, and so I suppose that’s enough,” interrupted Chiffin, fiercely. ‘Why, here you are as down in your luck as you well can be, and here am I ready to take you by the hand and put a eood thing in your way.” “All right, Chiffin,’ exclaimed Tony. “If you’re so deuced sure of the business I suppose it’s all safe. So here goes, and I’m the man to second you, old feller.” “ But I tell you what it is, Tony,’ growled the Cannibal, as he fixed his reptile-lke gaze upon his companion, “ if so be you feel afraid, say so at once, and there’s an end of the matter, ’cause why, I don’t like dealing with cowards.”’ ‘“ Come, Chiffin, none of this here sort of talk with me } 7? Gomichbooks (E(0)