The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

114 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“ Have the kindness to listen to me while I describe the par- ticular mountebank that I wish to converse with.” Then, having given the description, Christian added, “‘ Whisper in his ear that the young gentleman from whom he received two. shillings this afternoon desires to say five words to him.” The lodging-house keeper passed into his dwelling to exe- cute this commission; and while Christian remained standing upon the threshold, he saw that the pugilistic encounter was abruptly brought to an amicable close by the two combat- ants shaking hands at the instigation of the landlord of the public-house, who came forth thus to act as mediator; so that in a few moments the court was cleared of the uproarious rabble, who plunged back again through the portals of the boozing-ken. Almost immediately afterward the lodging- — house keeper reappeared, followed by the mountebank, who was now dressed in plain clothes of a very poor and shabby aspect. On perceiving our hero, he made a profound saluta- tion, and Christian, drawing him out into the court, said, ‘““T have no doubt you are surprised that I should seek you here, but, to come to the point at once, I think you can do me a service, and I need scarcely add that you will be liber- ally recompensed.”’ The mountebank joyously expressed his willingness to serve our young hero, who, having enjoined him to observe the strictest secrecy and discretion, explained the nature of the object which he had in view. The mountebank cheer- fully undertook it, and they separated, our young hero’s last words being, ‘‘ You will be sure, therefore, to come to the hotel in the morning for the note.” Having delivered this parting instruction, Christian sped back to rejoin his friend Edgar Beverley, to whom he ex- plained the arrangements which he had just settled with the itinerant performer. The young lieutenant was well pleased with our hero’s plan, and he thanked him warmly for the generous interest he was thus exhibiting on his behalf. He penned a letter for Laura, so that it might be ready when the mountebank should call for it in the morning; and when he and Christian had deliberated some little while longer upon the project which was thus settled, they retired to rest. It was about noon on the following day that the mounte- banks might have been seen marching upon their stilts through the fields in the neighbourhood of Verner House. EORMIClIOO KES (E(0)