The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

342 REYNOLDS’ WORKS manded Mrs. Smedley; ‘‘ what if that man who came to-night is a detective who wants to get into the house under pretence of being a lodger, that he may all the better play the spy upon us? I tell you I am certain that if we were to make such a move as would show we intended flight, we should both be pounced upon at once on some pretence or another. It is only by staying here, and seeming to rely on our respectability, that we are safe. The police are evi- dently puzzled about us; they don’t know what to think, they fancy we may be all right, and as long as we give them no cause to think otherwise, we are safe. They may try by all kinds of dodges to know more of us and peer into our secrets, but there’s no chance of their going to the length of laying hands upon us. We must therefore use the opportunity we now have to get rid of obstacles and overcome perils, so as to make ourselves completely safe. Now, that 1s my view of the matter, and it must be acted upon,” added Bab, peremptorily. ‘“ But what if I go to Liverpool? ” asked Jack, considerably reassured, though not completely so, by his wife’s arguments. ‘“ Natural enough,” she exclaimed, ‘‘ to see your mother- in-law, to remonstrate with her on her wickedness if she is suilty, to console and strengthen her if she is innocent. Will those reasons do, Jack? Come now, you have played the sanctimonious long enough amongst those snivelling, canting, whining hypocrites next door’ — alluding to the chapel — “‘ to be able to perform the same part with great effect at Liverpool. Take a clean white cravat with you, put on your longest face, and don’t fear as to the result. What you require is fortunately in the house —”’ ‘“ How? ” exclaimed Smedley. ‘The phial of prussic acid,” rejoined his wife. ‘“ Don’t you remember, we found it amongst Preston’s effects? Forger as he was, and always trembling at the idea of being arrested, he no doubt had the poison in readiness for any moment. It is lucky for our present purpose, because it would otherwise be dangerous for you just now to go out and buy it.” | We need not chronicle any more of the discourse which took place between this delectable husband and wiie; suffice it to say that everything was settled between them for the carrying out of their nefarious purpose. At an early ECORNICLIOOKS ((0)