The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

THE LODGING - HOUSE 173 has been paid into the bankers’. Well, but you say he only stayed with you a few days first of all? ”’ ‘No more he did,’”’ responded the hotel porter, “‘ and he set off one day into the country with only a little carpet- bag, observing that he should be back in a short time. He did not pay his bill when he went away, but seemed des- perate hurried. Five or six weeks passed, and the governor ”’ — meaning the landlord — “ began to think he was gam- moned, and that the gentleman’s great big trunk might only have brickbats and straw in it arter all, and that he had took away his shirts and what-not in the carpet-bag.”’ ‘‘ And a very reasonable suspicion too,’’ observed Mrs. Macaulay. ‘‘I should have entertained it long before the six weeks were up. But go on.” ‘“‘ Well, ma’am, it was on’y yesterday morning,’ continued the porter, “‘ that the governor, finding his customer didn’t come back, decided on breaking open the trunk, and he calls me to get a jimmy — that’s a crowbar, you know, ma’am — to do it. So, just as I was going up-stairs with the jimmy, a cab stops at the door, and who the deuce should walk in but Mr. Redcliffe, followed by the jarvey with the carpet-bag. So I slips the jimmy up my back, under my coat, and makes my bow as Mr. Redcliffe passes. Wasn’t the governor glad that he hadn’t come a few minutes later? for if he had, the trunk would have been opened as sure as @ gun.” “IT know I should have opened it at the end of the first week,’”’ interjected Mrs. Macaulay. ‘‘ Well, what next? ”’ ““Why, ma’am, just now — about an hour back — Mr. Redcliffe rings and orders his bill. Now, don’t you see, his trunk had been standing in his bedroom for the whole six weeks he had been absent, so of course the governor charges him for the use of the room the whole time. The waiter didn’t much like taking up the bill, though he’s got plenty of brass, that selfsame waiter has. But Mr. Redcliffe just slanced at the amount, threw down some bank-notes, and paid the bill without an instant’s hesitation.”’ “That’s just what I like,” ejaculated Mrs. Macaulay, resolving that her own bills should not be stinted in items, and with a quick mental glance perceiving in a moment how a, few little extras could easily be stuck on. “And I’m blessed, ma’am,” continued the hotel porter, EONNIE OOO () <S) (E(O)