The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

54 THE COURT OF LONDON Being very cold, he entered a public-house to take a dram at the bar; and while drinking the same, his eyes happened to light upon the countenance of Mr. Grumley, who was seated in a corner, smoking a pipe, in a manner so free and easy that no one unacquainted with him could possibly have suspected that he had any important business in hand. Giving a slight and rapid sign of intelligence to Page, the officer raised a pewter pot to his lips, and indulged in a long draught of porter; and the commercial traveller, under- standing that the Bow Street functionary did not wish to be spoken to or in any way recognized, paid for his dram, and quitted the house. Searcely had he crossed the threshold when he observed a female attired in deep black within a few yards of him; and as she passed, she stared at him in a peculiar manner. The light of the tavern lamp, dim though it were, gave him a good view of her countenance, which, in spite of its pale- ness, retained the traces of great beauty. She was of middle height, thin, but not badly shaped; and when she had ceased to gaze so intently upon the commercial traveller, she sud- denly assumed a demeanour so retiring and modest that a stranger would have taken her for the wife of a small trades- man or respectable mechanic. | Page felt convinced that this was the woman whom he had to meet; and he was hesitating whether to follow her or not, when she turned back, and as she repassed him, she again regarded him with a peculiar significancy. ‘““One moment, young woman,” said Page, touching her upon the shoulder as she was walking rapidly on. “ Are you looking for any one? ”’ ‘‘ T have found something, and am in search of the owner,”’ she replied, in a voice that was far from disagreeable, her lips at the same time revealing a very good set of teeth. “Then I am the person you want,’ returned the com- mercial traveller; ‘‘ and I have got fifty guineas to pay you.” ‘“ Who told you to meet me here, sir? ’”’ asked the woman, examining him attentively. ‘“A person called Joe the Magsman,’’ was the immediate response. ‘Good! ”’ remarked the Gallows’ Widow. ‘ Follow me.” COMMICOOOKS.€O)