The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 397: what you’re looking at

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

366 _ REYNOLDS’ WORKS courage, at once closed with him, Madame Angelique seized upon the miscreant from behind, and he was hurled upon the floor. ‘Hold him tight, Sir Frederick,” exclaimed the French- woman, “ while I run for the police! ”’ “Stop, I command you!” cried the merchant, with his knee upon the Burker’s chest and his right hand at the mis- creant’s throat. ‘“‘ Remain here, Madame Angelique! Do you hear me, I say? Remain here! ” ‘“‘ But this villain, Sir Frederick —” | ‘‘ Silence, and do as I bid you! Now shut the door.” The Frenchwoman, who was at present as much astonished as she was just now alarmed, did as she was desired, and Sir Frederick said to the Burker, ‘‘ Answer me a question or two, and I will let you go. Refuse, and I hand you over to the police.” “The fust is the best,’ responded Barney, gasping for breath, and smitten with surprise that he should be thus spoken to. ‘‘ Now, then, sir, what is it? ”’ “The night before last,’’ continued the merchant, ‘‘ you had a certain scene on the road near Balham Hill, and you said to a nobleman — Lord Rushbrook — who had you in custody, ‘ What about the safe and the cash-box?’ where- upon he at once let you go. Tell me the meaning of those words.” ‘‘ And if I do,” said the Burker, ‘‘ how do I know —”’ “That I shall let you go?” interrupted the merchant. ‘Ts it not worth your while to trust to my promise? You cannot make your position worse, but you may make it better.”’ ‘True enough!” ejaculated Barney. ‘‘ So here goes — But the gal will be coming back with the lobster.”’ , ‘Go you, madam,” said the merchant, ‘“‘ and see that your domestics — ”’ ‘“‘There’s only one at home, the other is out,” observed Barney. “‘ Go, then, madam, and keep the one domestic quiet,” said Sir Frederick Latham. “ Let nothing of all this be known. And fear nothing, for this fellow is far more in my power than he fancies himself.” Madame Angelique quitted the chamber; and the mer- chant, without releasing the Burker from his prostrate posi- CORNIECIOOKS (E(0)