The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

142 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘““And suppose he did,” exclaimed Chiffin, ‘‘ what then? Why did that prevent us from doing his business? ” ‘I don’t know how it was, but a sudden weakness came upon me,” answered Madge. “ I could not find it in my heart — ”’ ‘* Oh, that be hanged! ”’ growled Chiffin. ‘‘ I don’t believe it for a minute; it’s all nonsense. A sudden weakness over you, Madge? Why, you must take me for a downright fool — ”’ ‘““ Never mind what I take you for, Chiffin,’’ interrupted the woman, with a look and manner which showed that she was not to be frightened by him. “I tell you that some strange feeling of remorse or pity or fear, I don’t know which it was, but perhaps all three united, came over me at the time, and I could not possibly do the deed or yet let it be done. It seemed as if an invisible hand was stretched out to save him.” “ Well, I don’t know what to think of it,”’ observed Chiffin, sullenly. ‘ It’s a strange story, Madge, to come from your lips.” ‘““And I am a strange woman, too, am I not?” she de- manded, abruptly. ‘‘ You yourself said so just now.” ‘‘And so you are, and it’s perhaps on that account you suddenly took it into your queer head to let the young fellow go. Well,’ he continued, refilling his glass with brandy and water, ‘‘I suppose what you say must be the case; and if you only keep your word and come down with the blunt to-morrow night, I sha’n’t bother myself any longer about your strange conduct of just now.” “You may rely upon my punctuality,” said Madge. ‘At nine o’clock I will be in Agar Town. But while we were crossing the field, you said something about having done business for one of the Saxondale family several years ago.”’ ‘And so I did,’’ answered Chiffin, “‘and now I recollect, it was just about this time nineteen years back. But it wasn’t exactly for any one bearing the name of Saxondale. The old lord was alive then, and this covey who was here to-night was only just born.” ‘‘ T recollect you mentioned the name of a person called Farefield,”’ said Madge. ‘“ Yes, Ralph Farefield,” rejoined Chiffin. “ It was him that employed me. Ah, it is a rum affair altogether, and I comicbooks ¢€o