The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

THE GLASS DOOR 119 best, but had evidently endeavoured to make himself look as smart and as respectable as possible. Nevertheless nothing could materially mitigate the hangdog expression of his countenance, and the baronet could perceive that the prince, though endeavouring to maintain an air of dignified hauteur, was profoundly disgusted at being in the company of such aman. — Sir Douglas Huntingdon was determined, if possible, to ascertain what earthly business the prince regent of the kingdom could have to transact with the public executioner. The liveliest curiosity had seized upon the baronet, and at any risk of discovery as an eavesdropper was he resolved to eratify it. Seeing by the manner in which the prince stopped short in the middle of the saloon and leaned against a chair, that he intended to hold his interview with the Hangman in that apartment, Sir Douglas kept his post at the glass door, through which he could obtain a view of all that passed; and by cautiously and gently opening it the least possible distance, he was enabled to overhear the greater portion of the conversation which transpired. “Now, my man,”’’ said the prince, ‘‘ be so good as to tell me at once what itis you want with me. I received, with how much astonishment I leave you to guess, the precious specimen of orthography and penmanship which you sent me, begging this interview — ”’ “ Yes, and I received, too, the private message your Royal Highness sent by a gentleman in plain clothes,’ observed the Hangman, “ and I felt very much obliged at being told that I might come here on this day and at this hour, to have the honour of talking to your Highness.”’ “ Well, now you are here,” observed the prince, with ill- concealed impatience, ‘‘ and the sooner you explain your business the better.”’ “ If your Royal Highness means me to speak in such a hurry,” observed Coffin, “‘ I shall be so flurried — ”’ “ Well, take your own time, then,” exclaimed the prince, throwing himself in the chair upon the back of which he had been leaning, “ and I will listen to you as patiently as I can.” ‘“ Well, my lord, — I mean Royal Highness, — you must let me go back to the beginning,” resumed the Hangman. “ You know that day when you and Lady Ernestina Dysart found me locked fast in that queer-fashioned chair at Leveson connicloooks (C(O)