The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

340 REYNOLDS’ WORKS papers we took out from under the flooring of his house in Cambridge Terrace? ”’ ‘“ Never mind the papers,’ exclaimed Bab, petulantly; ‘“T have put them where they are safe enough, — though little use they ever stand the chance of being to us or our affairs; for when we made secret inquiries about those young Ashtons, we heard they were living in a wretched poor lodging in Camden Town, and hadn’t the means of rewarding any one who would give them up those papers. It has been of no use to make inquiries since, for it is not very likely their condition is much improved. But let us return to what we were saying —”’ “Yes, about your mother?” suggested Jack Smed- ley. | ‘Well, then, about my mother,’’ continued Bab. ‘ You know what my opinion is; I tell you that mother will peach if it answers her purpose. She has not sent us any reply to the two or three letters we have written, and which I so carefully worded that she could not fail to understand the game we had to play —”’ ‘“‘ Perhaps she is offended,” observed Jack Smedley, “‘ at our writing in that sort of sanctimonious strain? ”’ ‘““ Offended? nonsense,’ exclaimed Bab. ‘‘ How could she be offended? She knows very well that we must be aware all letters going to her would be opened by the gaol authorities, and that we were therefore compelled to write in a particular way. But never mind all this. It is of no use arguing the point. I tell you that if mother lives on to vo through her trial and be condemned to death, she will peach as sure as you are Jack Smedley.” “If she lives?” catching at those words which appeared to have some covert meaning. © ‘“ Yes, if she lives,’”’ answered Bab, repeating those words. ‘“ And therefore she must not live, and if you are a man, Jack —”’ ‘““T am man enough to do anything to secure our safety,” responded the gold-beater. ‘‘ Only show me how —” “Now look you,” replied Bab; ‘‘ I understand mother well enough, and a great deal better than you do. She would like to put herself out of the way before the trial comes on, —of that I am.convinced. But if the trial is once over, and she is condemned to death, and the croaking parsons ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)