The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 387: what you’re looking at

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

306 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a sudden precipitate rush, as if of some wild animal, caused the detectives themselves to start, while a shriek of terror thrilled from the lips of the woman who until this abrupt occurrence had maintained such extraordinary presence of mind. It was the black cat, which had come sweeping down the stairs with a gushing noise of lightning quickness, and making the circuit of the scullery, the animal whisked up the staircase again as if it were wild. ‘“That’s an omen, I suppose,” said the tall detective, looking significantly at the gold-beater’s wife, who was pale with terror. . “It is enough to startle anybody,” she observed, once more by a mighty effort recovering her self-possession. “‘ It’s the presence of you strangers that frightens the poor creature.. As for the trap-door here, it only covers a well — ” “With steps to it,” said the detective, with an ironical smile. “Yes, with steps down to a certain distance; they are all broken at the bottom, and if you don’t mind — ”’ “You think we shall be drowned? It’s a very curious earthy smell for water to send up, and what’s more,” added the detective, holding the candle over the opening, “‘ I can’t catch the reflection of any water at all.’’ Bab felt convinced it was all up with the Burker, and she inwardly trembled on account of herself; for her arrest must necessarily follow, if only for the reason that she was har- bouring a criminal on whose head a reward was set. She thought of escape, but how could she effect it? There was a man in the passage up-stairs, and she had been told that the back part of the premises was watched by other officers. ‘Now, Tom, hold the light,” said the tall detective, ‘ and keep an eye —”’ He did not finish the sentence, but nodded significantly, and his sedate, quiet-looking, but not the less resolute sub- ordinate comprehended that the allusion bore reference to Mrs. Smedley. Drawing forth a pair of pistols, the detective began to descend the stone steps of the subterranean, while his man held the candle conveniently at the mouth, and the former said, in a stern, decisive tone, ‘‘ Now Mr. Smedley, we know you are here. You had better surrender yourself, for if you attempt any resistance, you will pa get a bullet through the head.” , EORMICLIOO KS (E(0)