The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXIV MRS. BRACE AND MR. PETER GRUMLEY THE room in which the preceding dialogue had taken place was large though not lofty; and thus, while Rose Foster and George Woodfall were discoursing near the fireplace, nothing that passed between them was overheard by the milliner and the head constable, who were holding their conference in the window recess. And now let us see what were the topics of conversation with this latter couple. ‘“‘ Well, ma’am,” observed Mr. Grumley, in a low and con- fidential tone, as Mrs. Brace accompanied him apart into the window recess, ‘‘ I suppose you ain’t wery sorry that the present business has come off so well.” ‘‘ On the contrary,” returned the milliner, ‘‘ I can scarcely restrain my Joy. You certainly managed the affair excel- lently — ”’ ‘“ Indeed, ma’am,” interrupted Mr. Peter Grumley, ‘there was no management in the matter at all. The thing took its regular course, and there was no necessity for me to make use of any artifice or stratagem whatsomever.”’ ‘What do you mean? ” exclaimed Mrs. Brace, surveying the head constable with the most unaffected astonishment. “The inculpation of Arthur Eaton — ”’ “Was brought about by the natural course of events, ma’am,”’ rejoined the officer. ‘“‘ Everything went on as smooth as possible; and justice received nothing more than the ordinary amount of help, and certainly not the slightest shadow of hindrance.’’ cod “Tam totally at a loss what to think or how to understand you, Mr. Grumley,” said the milliner. “In the first place, did you not contrive the little incident of the discovery of the 211 COMmiclsoo S (C(O)