The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

162 THE COURT OF LONDON ““T’d sooner slit my windpipe than blab a syllable,” exclaimed Mr. Peter Grumley, with more emphasis than elegance. ‘‘ Besides, it’s my dooty to obey your Royal Highness, which will some day be the suverin of these rel-ems.”’ And the embryo “sovereign of the realms”’ could not help smiling at the pronunciation of the Bow Street officer, who, thinking that he was bound to take the cue of good manners from the prince, gave a tremendous grin, as if his head were suddenly opening from ear to ear. ‘‘ But let us hasten to business,” cried the heir apparent, “for time is precious.” Mr. Grumley’s mouth instantly closed, and he became all attention. ‘““T believe you are engaged in sifting the particulars of the two dreadful murders which were committed last night? ”’ said the prince, interrogatively. “ Such is my wocation, may it please your Royal High- ness,’ answered Grumley. ‘‘ And what is your opinion of each case? ’”’ demanded the prince. ‘“ Well, about the one what took place in the buildings up by Barnsbury Park,” rejoined the officer, “I think there’s some mystery as will make matters turn up different from what they now appears; for it don’t seem natral that a delicate young gal of sixteen should murder a middle- aged walley with whom she doesn’t appear to have had any connection whatsomever. As for t’other case, the one over in Lambeth, I sent my man Mobbs— Please your Royal Highness,’ continued Grumley, interrupting himself, ‘“‘ Mobbs is my leftenant, as the saying is, my head muck and facto- tum; he’s a cunning blade, is Mobbs — ’tis the same wot pitched his wife out of a three-pair back and cut his child’s head off some five or six year ago. May be your Royal High- ness recollects the circumstance? ”’ ‘‘T cannot exactly say that I do,” responded the prince, with a visible shudder; but he spoke mildly, inasmuch as it was his policy just at this moment to conciliate Mr. Grum- ley’s good opinion as much as possible. ‘‘ But you were about to give me some information respecting the dreadful affair in Fore Street.”’ | ‘Yes, so I were,” observed the official. “ Well, I was CORNIClLOOO S co im