The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

236 REYNOLDS’ WORKS he fronts me, and, fixing his piercing eyes upon me, says, says he, ‘I know Mr. Chiffin is a genelman which always has plenty of money about, him,’ and then he winked in a knowing manner, so that I couldn’t be off guessing what he meant. The fact is, my lord, I did a certain little business at that public-house where I had seen the old Jew —”’ “Yes, yes, I know it,’ interrupted Lord Harold, some- what impatiently, for he liked as little as might be to have to listen to the Cannibal’s story, but at the same time it did not answer his purpose to offend the man. “So I sup- pose you had to give a large sum of money? ”’ “ Well, my lord,’ continued Chiffin, “‘ the short and the long of it was that this old Jew whispered to the long, lanky feller which was showing me the unmentionables, and they asked me to step along with them to the nearest public- house, where we might talk certain little matters over. I did not dare refuse; they might have raised a hue and cry and I should have been done for. So we went away to- gether. ‘The old Jew asked for a private room, and when we were all three closeted there, he told me, as cool as possible, that if I didn’t give him every farthing I had about me, he would shout out for the constables. ‘There was a pretty plight for a genelman like me to be in, and as a matter of course I was as powerless as a child in their hands. I could not even prevent them from searching me as they choose, ‘cos why, though I was strong enough to knock ’em both into the middle of next week, or smash ’em up into little bits, yet I didn’t dare raise a finger or even look savage, for fear lest they should give the alarm. Well, my lord, as I am telling you, I was just like a child in their hands; and as I’ve lately made it a rule to carry about with me all I possess, — ’cos why, I was some time ago robbed by a pal of mine named Tony Wilkins, when I left my money locked up in a cup- board — ”’ ‘Then I suppose these Jews plundered you of every farthing?’ observed Lord Harold, with an increasing 1m- patience, which he could no longer conceal. “All except a little loose silver and a few halfpence,”’ replied Chiffin, with a horribly savage expression of counte- nance, ‘‘ and they would not even give me them inexpress- ibles that I had been bargaining for. So I made the best of my way off from that public-house, and went down to CONNIE IDOO KS (E(0) m