The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIII A GLANCE AT THE PAST WHATEVER intention Madge Somers might have had, a few minutes back, of entering into full particulars with Chiffin the Cannibal as to the cause of her singular be- haviour toward Lord Saxondale, she had come to a very opposite resolution by the time she returned to him. In short, for reasons best known to herself, she had entirely changed her mind, and determined to keep her own counsel. At the same time there were certain particulars to which he had briefly alluded when they were crossing the field together, and respecting which she was anxious to obtain the fullest and completest explanations. Madge Somers therefore felt that she had a difficult game to play with the formidable Chiffin, and that it would require all her arts of diplomacy to effect the double object of satisfying him in respect to her own conduct, and at the same time gleaning what she wanted to know from his lips. ‘You are enjoying yourself,’ she said, flinging off her old cloak and sitting down near the table. ‘“‘ Well, I think it wants something to put one in a good humour after this disappointment,’ growled the Cannibal. ““ But it wasn’t for a glass of brandy and water that I came up here to-night, I can tell you,’ he added. ‘‘ Who’s to pay me the hundred pounds I have just lost by your silly nonsense in letting that young fellow go? For I haven't forgot that you said just now my share would come to that amount.”’ “Now, Chiffin,” answered Madge Somers, ‘* you have known me some years, and I have never deceived you in business matters, have I? ”’ “‘ No, I can’t say that you have,”’ responded the Cannibal, 140 EONME OOO KS () (E(O)