The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 392: what you’re looking at

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

THE SECRET EXPEDITION 309 pecting, or any detail of his wonted routine of business that he fancied himself called upon to transact. Hush!” again whispered Agatha, and impelled by an irresistible curiosity, she approached the door to listen. “How can you beso foolish?’ exclaimed Mrs. Ranger, who, however, somewhat catching the infection of her young companion’s fears, rose up from her seat and joined her at the door. And now both of them listened with suspended breath to catch the slightest word or sound that might reveal the mystery of the doctor’s recent agitation, and of the scene — whatever it were — that was now passing in the hall. “You are full early to-night, Robert,’’ said Maravelli, in a voice which, though subdued, nevertheless reached the ears of the two ladies. “It is not always easy to pick and choose one’s own time,” answered a rough voice, “ and we fishers of men must take home the booty that our nets bring up as soon as caught, or else ’tis apt to turn putrid,” and the fellow indulged in a coarse chuckle which sounded hideous and ominous through the hall. “Hush! hush! I have patients there,’ said the doctor. “But whom have you in your company? ”’ ‘“ Hernani the Italian and Walden the Switzer,” was the response, again given in the rough voice which had before spoken and which no doubt belonged to the individual whom the doctor had addressed as Kobolt. ‘‘ Here they are, getting the fish in out of the cart. Come now, dame Mavolta, bring the light nearer. There! down with it upon the floor, comrades, and then you can be off to get the cart away back to the shed. But of course you will mind what answers ye give the police if ye happen to encounter them.”’ “Ay, ay,” replied two other voices, most probably those of Hernani and Walden. ‘ But here’s the fish,’’ — and almost at the same instant Agatha and Mrs. Ranger heard something fall, like a heavy inert mass, upon the stone pavement of the hall; and the sound struck upon their ears dull and ominous, as if it were that of a corpse, making their blood run cold and their limbs tremble. Fain would they have raised their veils and peeped forth from the parlour door to clear up the horrible suspicion which had arisen in their minds, and thus relieve themselves CoOnnicloooks (C(O)