The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

THE LODGING - HOUSE 169 landlady, ‘‘ I think you will find them excellent apartments. Is it for yourself and lady — or —”’ ‘For myself only,’ replied the stranger, and he made a motion toward the door, as if impatient to view the apart- ments without further delay or discourse. ‘‘ T will show you the rooms, sir,”’ continued Mrs. Macaulay, and as she led the way up the stairs, she muttered to herself, ‘‘ Heavens! there’s a broom where a broom should not be,”’ and then as she reached the landing, she suddenly opened a closet-door and thrust a pail into it, still muttering, “‘ That slut Betsy! what can she be thinking of? ”’ The apartments were duly shown; the stranger merely flung a single glance around the drawing-room and the bedchamber, which were on the same level, and expressed himself satisfied. ‘“‘ The rent, sir, is four guineas a week, of course including attendance,’ said Mrs. Macaulay, ‘“‘ but for this sum you have a chamber up-stairs, in case you keep a servant of your own.”’ ‘‘T have none, and do not mean to keep any,” answered the gentleman. ‘Very good, sir, just as you think fit,” exclaimed Mrs. Macaulay. ‘‘ You will find mine a very quiet house, and I need not say,’ she added, drawing herself up, “ that it is of first-rate respectability. When should you like to come in, sir? ”’ ‘“A word or two first, if you please,’”’ responded the stranger. ‘“‘I am somewhat of an invalid, and seek quiet apartments. Have you any other lodgers in the house? ”’ ‘The floor above is let, sir, but to the nicest, quietest young people that you could wish to see.” ‘‘ Have they children? ” asked the stranger. ‘* They are brother and sister, sir,’”’ rejoined Mrs. Macaulay, “quite young folks, and highly respectable, for they have never once missed paying their rent since they have been here, which is upward of six months. They go up and down stairs as quiet a¥ mice — ”’ _“ And you have no other lodgers? ”’ “None, sir. If you take these rooms, my lodgings will be all occupied. I only let out these two floors.”’ “Then I will take the apartments,” said the gentleman, EORNICLOOOKS (E(O)