The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

212 THE COURT OF LONDON blade of the knife in Mr. Eaton’s own apartment at his father’s mansion? Did you not contrive this incident, I ask, for the purpose of procuring Miss Foster’s immediate acquittal? ” ‘No such a thing, ma’am!”’ exclaimed Grumley, with al- most an expression of indignation upon his countenance. “ I don’t do business in that fashion, I can assure you. Besides, how do you suppose that I could procure a broken blade to fit so exactly as the one did that was produced in court just now? ”’ ‘““ Well, well, I perceive that you do not choose to be too communicative, Mr. Grumley,” said Mrs. Brace, her arch smile displaying the fine teeth which shone like ivory be- twixt the moist coral of her luscious lips. ‘‘ Keep your own counsel — I shall not attempt to pry into your secrets. All that you undertake you evidently manage so well that those who employ you ought to be satisfied with the results and not seek to ascertain how those consequences have been brought about. I have not forgotten your remark that when the means do not present themselves of their own accord you invent or devise them.” “Yes, ma’am, and so does every long-headed person in this world to a certain extent,’”’ observed Grumley, softening in his manner as his libidinous eyes feasted themselves upon the milliner’s full bosom, which was much exposed in conse- quence of the rich scarf being thrown back on account of the heat of the room. “ But I see that you don’t precisely un- derstand the events of this arternoon,”’ continued Grumley, edging closer toward Mrs. Brace and bending his tall form somewhat so as to be enabled to maintain a confidential kind of whispering in her ear. “ The fact is that I was quite sure all along of Miss Foster’s innocence, and I knowed that if any one could make it appear, Counsellor Sharply was the man. But I must candidly confess that at fust things seemed to go bad enough against the young lass, till a slight turn took place, when it was proved that she was running off in one direction while the lady in black which Mr. Eaton saw had fled in another. Then, you see, the suspicion instantly arose that Mr. Eaton might have invented his lady in black; and immediately afterward comes the extraordinary affair of the knife with the initials upon it. As a matter of course, Counsellor Sharply seized on them two pints; and he asked CoOnmmicoooks. conn