The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 390: what you’re looking at

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

A NIGHT ADVENTURE old case of extreme desperation of circumstances, but then not to hesitate an instant. The two burglars now began ascending the stairs, Chiffin walking first with his muffled feet, and Tony Wilkins with his naked ones; for the latter was carrying his boots in his hand, and as for stockings, his wardrobe was not extensive enough to permit him the enjoyment of such luxuries. He however hoped to improve and replenish it by the proceeds of his share of the present night’s plunder. The marble hall was reached, and from this point, the same as from the lower regions, it appeared that a profound silence reigned throughout the house, for it was now past one in the morning, the operations at the back door having absorbed at least three-quarters of an hour. The parlours opening from the hall were visited by the intruders, and though they abounded in many fashionable knickknacks, objects of virtu, beautiful ornaments, and the usual decora- tions to be found on the mantelpieces and side-tables of apartments in the houses of the rich, there was not much in those rooms that would suit the purposes of the robbers. A few things, however, they did consign to their pockets, and emboldened by the freedom from interruption and the absence of all alarm which they thus experienced, they began the ascent of the magnificent marble staircase leading to the drawing-rooms and state apartments. In the first of these which they entered, they found a gold watch lying upon the table, and there were many little ornaments scat- tered about which they knew Solomon Patch would purchase, and to which they therefore freely helped themselves. Thence they passed into the adjacent room, but as they entered it with as much caution as possible, they stopped suddenly short on beholding a light at the farther extremity. It shone through a door which stood half-open at the end of the large apartment they had just entered. The burglars stopped short, we say, and Chiffin instanta- neously closed the blind of his dark lantern. But the two men did not retreat; they stood and listened with breathless attention. If they had heard voices in conversation they would have held it time enough to make the best of their way from the premises, but if they heard no voices, they would then be encouraged to traverse the room which they had entered and see who was in the next one, in which GOmiiGaooks (S(O)