The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

THE CATALOGUE OF CRIMES 3 Mr. Page, who, by the assistance of the active waiter, imme- diately began to extricate himself from the mass of upper clothing which he wore. “ But it is a precious sharp evening, I can tell you! The roads are as hard as iron, and the air is what might be called quite crisp. Now, John,” he continued, as he threw aside the large woollen article that had enveloped his neck, turning at the same time toward the waiter whom he thus addressed, “ get me a nice steak and oyster sauce; and send Boots with a pair of slippers.” “Yes, sir,’ replied the waiter, immediately afterward disappearing to execute the commissions specified. Room was now made for Mr. Page near the fire; and, hav- ing taken his seat, he held his hands close to the cheerful grate until a genial warmth began to pervade his form. He was a man of about five and forty, with a thin, sallow, and angular countenance, small restless gray eyes, and a good set of teeth. His forehead was remarkably high, and his head was bald on the crown; but on each side the bushy iron-gray hair stuck out, mingling with the whiskers which, of a somewhat darker hue, met underneath his chin. His whole appearance gave the idea of one of that bustling kind of persons who are re- markably shrewd in matters of business and know tolerably well how to take care of “‘ Number One.”’ ‘‘ Where do you come from to-day, Page? ”’ inquired the commercial traveller who had made room for him near the fire, and next to whom he was therefore seated. ‘“T slept at Aylesbury last night, and started for town at nine this morning,’ was the answer. “ Forty good miles is not such a bad day’s work, I take it; but you know that I don’t drive the worst bit of horse-flesh on the road. I’ve been out for the last four months, and have not been idle, I can assure you. There are few places in all the Midland counties. that I have not visited; and I think that my governors, Hodson and Morley, will be pretty well satisfied when I call upon them in Wood Street to-morrow morning with all the fresh orders I have got and the monies I have col- lected.”’ “ Any news up Aylesbury way?” asked one of the trav- ellers. “‘ I am well acquainted with all that part of Bucking- hamshire, and feel an interest in it.”’ “Then perhaps you know Sir Richard Stamford — eh?” exclaimed Page, becoming suddenly excited as if he had (C(O) ami Doo SS (CO)