The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

THE VILLA 247 sweepings to be found in the great moral sewer which con- stitutes more than half of the modern Babylon. As the above is no imaginary character, we have taken some little pains to describe him. In respect to Spider Bill, we need say no more than that he was so called from his peculiar shape and an extreme length of hmb. He also was as desperate a character as Chiffin the Cannibal or Mat the Cadger, and therefore well fitted to be their associate in any criminal undertaking. We say it was ten o’clock; and those three villains, to- gether with the old gardener, were drinking and smoking in the private room at the public-house where we find them thus grouped together. ‘“‘ Well,” said Mat the Cadger, appealing to Chiffin, “ I should think it is pretty near time for us to be off. The clock down-stairs has just struck ten, and it’s a good twenty minutes’ walk toward the villa. Besides which, we must separate and go different ways.”’ “We will be off directly,’? answered Chiffin, ‘‘ but don’t you dictate, old feller, ’cos why, I’m in command now.”’ “TI suppose there isn’t no doubt of its all being square and straightfor’ard this time,’ observed Spider Bill, “‘ for there’s been so many puts-off during I don’t know how many weeks past — ”’ “To be sure,’ growled Chiffin, “ ’cos why, Lord Harold is a muff in these things, and you chaps ain’t much better. But here, you see, I have only been in the business two or three days, and it’s going to be done as nice as possible. But I say, you feller,” he added, turning to the gardener, “you're certain sure that it’s all right at the villa, eh? ”’ “lve told you so a dozen times,’ was the old man’s response. “ I’m certain that Deveril suspects nothing.’’ “ But what do you think Mr. Deveril could have been about, all that while absent from home from ten in the morn- ing till three in the afternoon? ”’ inquired Chiffin. “ Why, courting, to be sure, down in Cavendish Square,”’ replied the gardener, “‘ and perhaps attending to business of some kind or another. But I’ll answer for it that there’s nothing wrong, because I waited in the garden, as I’ve told you, till he came back at three o’clock, and hespoke as friendly and looked as happy as ever. Besides, didn’t I tell you that J went into the kitchen and stopped till he set off to go to CONNIE DOOKS (E(0)