The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE COURT OF LONDON “That is the difficulty!’’ exclaimed the commercial traveller, assuming a tone of vexation. ‘‘ The front door is precious strong and well chained and bolted; and the shutters to the warehouse window are not a very insignificant barrier. If there was much noise made, the porter would be sure to wake up down-stairs.”’ ‘‘ And there’s no means of getting in at the back? ” asked the robber. “None that I know of,” replied Page, purposely avoiding the creation of a suspicion by representing the business as one that had few difficulties in the way. “Well, it must be attempted in front, then,” said the Magsman. “ We must manage to get down one of the shutters, take out a square of glass, shove in a boy to open the front door, and pop up the shutter again before the watchman comes along. The course is clear enough now; it is dificult and even dangerous, but a mere flea-bite to things that I have done in my time.” Here again the Gallows’ Widow laughed in her quiet way, as if it were to herself. ‘“ Well,” resumed the Magsman, “ so far we have settled the matter. Now, where do we meet to-morrow night at about a quarter to twelve o’clock? ”’ ‘‘ Name your own place, and I will be there to a minute,” answered Page, delighted to think that the interview was drawing to an end. ‘““'There’s a flash-house in Grub Street, called the ‘ Kin- chin-Ken,’”’ said the Magsman, after a few moments’ re- flection. ‘‘ You will be there at a quarter to twelve; and it would be well, perhaps,’ added the ruffian, “if you was to come in the shabbiest clothes you have.” ‘JT will not forget,’’ responded Page. “Not in that slap-up cloak, mind,” observed the Mags- man; ‘ but try and look as much like one of us as you can. The Kinchin-Ken is a noted house for young prigs, and there’ll be a many there at the time; so that if you go amongst them in swell toggery it may be disagreeable.” ‘J shall bear in mind all you tell me,” said Page, rising from his seat; and, having emptied his glass, he wished the robber a good night. ‘Good night, my ben-cull,’’ returned the man, extending his huge hand, which the commercial traveller was com- COMMICOOOKS.€)