The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXIX THE HANGMAN’S PROCEEDINGS It appeared to the public executioner that he heard one of the individuals put a key in a lock and open a door which grated on its hinges. His supposition was correct. It was Jeremy Humpage opening an iron safe, which was let into the wall of his bedchamber. ‘“‘ Well, my dear friend,’ said the old man, in his nervous, trembling voice, ‘‘ since we have agreed upon the value of the swag, all I have got to do is to give you your share. Thirds, you know, you take thirds in these matters.”’ “ That’s right enough,’ answered the Swag Chovey Bloak, ‘‘ as a general rule, but —”’ ‘Dear me, my worthy and excellent friend,” interrupted old Jeremy, ‘“ pray don’t look discontented. You can’t conceive how I hate the word ‘ but.’ Besides, I thought just now, before we left the secret room, that you were quite contented to take your usual share of the value of all that plate? ”’ ‘* Well, but this job is different from the rest,”’ rejoined the Swag Chovey Bloak, in a tone of remonstrance. ‘“ Recol- lect —”’ ‘““ Hush, hush, my dear friend!” said Jeremy Humpage. ‘“‘ Bear in mind, I told you that scoundrel Coffin is in the next room to this, and as he mightn’t be asleep, it is possible he may hear us. Speak low, therefore, speak low. He’s deuced suspicious.” ‘“‘ Well,”’ resumed the other fence, “as I was going to observe, you should recollect that this is the largest and best business I have ever put in your way yet, long as we have been connected together. Here’s a matter of at least four hundred pound worth of plate that you gave sixty pound 302 cComiiclooolks C@