The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER III THE RESULTS OF THE PLOT “An! Bencull, how are you?” said the Bow Street official, in an easy offhand manner. ‘“‘ The fact is that I wanted to have a word or two with you, and thought this as good a time as any.” Thus speaking, Mr. Sampson unceremoniously entered the house, passed by Bencull, and proceeded straight to the room at the back. Bencull, recovering somewhat from his astonishment, hastily shut the door and followed close behind, the light which he carried revealing the person of the newcomer to the Buttoner, the Mushroom Faker, and the Durrynacker. These individuals were as much as- tounded as the landlord of the place had been, on beholding the object of their murderous purpose thus familiarly and coolly appear before them. He was attired in his usual manner, and had his hands thrust into the depths of his capacious breeches pockets. Entering the room and throwing himself leisurely upon a chair, Mr. Sampson glanced around him with a peculiar smile, observing, ‘‘ Well, there are no strange faces here. I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with every one of you for a long time past, — personally at least, if not to speak to.” There was a slight accent of irony in his tone and a similar expression in his look; so that the four ruffans exchanged dubious and inquiring glances with each other, as much as to say, ‘" What on earth does all this mean? ’”’ Indeed, they knew not what to think nor what to do; but with a sort of consternation upon them, they awaited in silence for Larry Sampson to explain himself further. ‘Now, my good friends,’ resumed the officer, pushing 22 CORNICE OOKS (E(@)