The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 400: what you’re looking at

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

ce THE BANK-NOTES 369 ous attack on the miscreant’s part, he said, ‘‘ You may now steal forth from the house. Proceed, I will follow. And be- ware how you are found again lurking in this neighbourhood, or in that of my own abode, for the police will have orders to take you into custody.” ‘ Don’t you be afeard, sir,” answered the Burker. “ I’ve had quite enow of these here parts of the country for the present.”’ 7 The ruffian stole down the stairs, Sir Frederick Latham following with the club in his hand, until he saw him safe out of the front door. Madame Angelique had in the mean- while been talking to her pretty maid servant in the kitchen, the girl having returned-from the neighbouring fishmonger’s; but Jane was utterly unsuspicious of the incident which had occurred, and of the presence of the desperado in the house, although it struck her that her mistress was somewhat flur- ried, and that it was likewise singular she should remain in conversation with her there. The ex-milliner heard the front door close, and she then quitted the kitchen. Rejoin- ing Sir Frederick Latham in the hall, she conducted him into the parlour, and the merchant said, ‘‘ You may perhaps think it strange, Madame Angelique, that I should have suffered that miscreant to escape, but as you heard a part of that conversation which I held with him, you may possibly have understood that I have a reason for dealing thus le- niently. The truth is, he has given me some information which I was most anxious to obtain, and for which it was well worth my while to bribe him by means of his own freedom. More I need not say upon the subject — unless it be to enjoin the strictest secrecy on your part in respect to all that has thus occurred.”’ ‘“‘T am sure, Sir Frederick,” answered Madame Angelique, “ after your kindness to me of this morning you have only to express your wishes in order to have them fulfilled by me. But how came you at the house in the very nick of time? ”’ Sir Frederick explained that he had ridden across from Balham Hill, to ask some more questions in respect to the topic which had been discoursed upon in the morning, but Madame Angelique could give him no further explanations. She declared that she had never, to her knowledge, seen the paramour whom Lady Anastatia had occasionally met at her house, and, in short, Sir Frederick Latham took his leave of ECORMMICLOO© Ss (CO)