The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 225 ena everything f° exclaimed Coffin. “One would really | expect that sooner or later you may resume your think you'd been a gonnoff or cracksman* yourself ! favourite post——” ia your day—and perhaps you would too, if you hadn’t been born a Prince.” “Well, go on,” said his Royal Highness, who could not help smiling at the conceit. “You have told me one of your chances of getting what you eall comfortable again: now tell me the other.” “It is just this,” rejoined Daniel Coffin,—* that if so be there’s a man to hang some fine Monday morning, and no one to hang him, the sheriff will make proclamation of free pardon to any enter- prising individual, no matter what his crimes may have been, who shall step for’ard and offer himself for the dooty.” “ Ab f° ejaculated the Prince, with a rapid glance of intelligence at Ernestina. “Then you really do © Thief or burgiar. “If it wasn’t an unpleasant subject, Prince,” said the Hangman, looking towards the lady ina mean- ing manner, “ I might perliapa let you into the real secret of my hopes on the point we are “Do not mind me,” observed Ernestina, pak candidly and openly to his Royal Highness, what- ever you may have to say :"—and she walked to- wards the end of the room, still however remaining within ear-shot, as the chamber has already’ bees described as of narrow dimensions. “Well, then, since I am to speak out, I will,” continued Daniel Coffin, fully convinced in his own mind that all this questioning did not arise from mere curiosity alone on the part of the Prince, but waa connected with the topic of his recently- whispered colloquy with Ernestina, whatever that topic might have been, “The fact is, your Roys' | comliclbooks.com