The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

THE CELL 195 ‘Well, I think I do,” replied the Burker. ‘And you remember that I returned,’ continued his Grace, ‘“* and asked you something about a ring? ”’ ‘“ Well, I do recollect summut of that also,’”? was the prisoner’s response. ‘And you deny having seen that ring which I dropped? ”’ “To be sure; ’cause why I didn’t see it.” ‘‘T know you said so at the time,’’ continued the Duke of Marchmont, ‘‘ but I had my doubts then, and I have them still more strongly now. Come, my man, confess the truth. That ring is of no use to you — ”’ ‘“ Not a bit,” replied the Burker. ‘‘ But it is much valued by me,” proceeded Marchmont, ‘“‘ because it was a gift from a relative who is now no more. Situated as you are, unhappy man — ”’ ‘“‘ Yes, a devilish pretty sitiwation it is,” said the Burker. ‘““Nice easy seat this, pleasant airy cell, no smell of the drains, plenty of good grub, a bottle of the best wine, and a set of say-nothink-to-nobody kind of fellows that doesn’t take you by the scruff of the neck and shove you along when they wants you to move from place to place.” ‘‘Come, none of your nonsense, now!’ exclaimed the in- spector, sharply, as he stood just behind the duke. “Oh, that’s you, Mr. Jack-in-office, is it?’”’ said the Burker. ‘‘ Pray do not irritate him,”’ whispered the duke, hastily, to the official. ‘‘ I am sure he has got my ring, and I think I can do something with him.”” Then again turning to the Burker, Marchmont said, ‘‘ Come, my man, it will do you no good to deny the fact.” “ Well, Ill tell you what it is,” interrupted Barney, who was at no loss to conjecture that the duke wanted to speak to him alone, “ if so be as I’ve got summut to tell, I sha’n’t tell it in the presence of that Jack-in-office. He’s insulted me, he’s wounded my feelin’s in their most sensitive pint.” “Mr. Inspector,’ whispered the duke, now again hastily turning toward the official, ‘‘ may I venture to beg that you will just step away from the threshold of the door? ” “To be sure, my lord,’’ responded the officer, who was all obsequiousness. “I do really believe your Grace will manage the fellow yet, but if not I will have his person searched once more.”’ EOMINGIOOKS (CO)