The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 237: what you’re looking at

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

210. REYNOLDS’ WORKS red lips. An investigation followed, the way in which the business was transacted was brought to light, and while passing a month at the House of Correction on account of the kissing affair, I had ample leisure to reflect on what should be the new dodge.”’ ‘““ And what did you do then?”’ asked Ben Limber. ‘“T came out of prison in such precious bad plight,’’ re- sponded Mr. Bealby, “‘ that I was scarcely fit for anything except to make myself a victim.” ‘‘ A victim!’ ejaculated Ben. ‘‘ A victim of what? ” ‘A victim of religious persecution,’ answered Mr. Bealby. “Don’t you see, I was a tradesman from the north of Eng- land who had been distrained upon for Church rates, and resisting the claim upon principle, was made a martyr to the cause. I had come up to London to get some member to present a petition to Parliament on my behalf, but being reduced to distress, was obliged to apply to the sitting magis- trate at one of the police courts, taking very good care, how- ever, not to address myself to the worshipful gentleman who: had committed me in the kissing case. Well, my story was believed, I had ten shillings given me from the poor-box, and the next day the case was in all the papers. ‘ Respectable man,’ ‘.distressed and careworn appearance,’ and all that sort of thing. It told admirably, and subscriptions poured in. ‘A BC.’ sent two pounds, ‘ A Lady’ five pounds, ‘ the Earl. of X’ ten pounds, ‘ A Dissenter’ one guinea, and so forth. An elderly Quaker ferreted me out and took me to his house. I received the first subscriptions from the magistrate; they still kept pouring in — but I never got any more, for his worship in the meantime had written to the north, and had learned that my tale was a pure fabrication. The Quaker resented a little familiarity of which I was guilty toward his pretty, demure-looking daughter, from whose lips L sought a kiss, and so, all things considered, I was compelled to beat a retreat into another neighbourhood.”’ ‘‘ And what did you do then?” inquired Ben Lane - “T could not immediately settle my mind to anything,” answered Mr. Bealby, ‘and so the money slipped away before I was well-prepared with a scheme for making more.. At last, driven by necessity, I took to penny-a-lining for a sporting newspaper. It was hard work enough, but I got a-good insight into turf matters, though I did not much ECORNICLIIOOKS (E(0)