I Forbid the Banns! — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

334 | “7 FORBID THE BANNS !” “ Lor’ bless you!” said the man, “if the people about saw me signaling to you—even if it was only waving my ’at or blowing three blasts on a whistle, they’d suspect that summat was up, and our game would be over. Civilians ‘ave no caution. It takes us.” ‘‘ Look here, my man,” said Julian. ‘ You walk up past that house. If the lady is at the window, as you say she usually is at this hour, put your left hand into your pocket. If she’s not there, walk straight on as before.” ‘‘ Well, if it don’t turn out all right, don’t blame me, that’s all,” said the detective. He strolled up the street whistling so loudly to impress the passers-by with his nonchalance that the people stared at him and wondered what he was up to. When he came Opposite number thirty-two he glared in at the window, and looking back at Charlton stuffed his hand into his coat pocket three times and then walked on. Surely there never was such a fool in any employment, Julian thought as he walked down the street. But in spite of his acquaintance with the man’s stupidity, he felt his heart beating quickly as he approached the house number thirty-two. If Bertha had wished to hide herself effectively, she could not have chosen a better street for the purpose. He walked on and almost gavea gasp as he turned his glance casually to the window into which the detective had glared. | He gave a greater gasp when he saw sitting at that window a young woman with a complexion of magnolia balm, and hair of a tint of gold that is supplied, not by nature in her most lavish mood, but by the coiffeur at half a crown a bottle—a young woman who smiled at him inthe most gracious manner possible, considering that he was a total stranger. A hansom was passing. Julian hailed it and gave the driver his address. He left the detective to look after himself, com (a) DOOKSEGO