The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

MRS. BRACE AND MR. GRUMLEY 213 for a remand to enable me and Mobbs to go and make a search at Lord Marchmont’s house in Hanover Square. Well, I can’t say that I expected to find anything important there, although such-like investigations have at times led to the most extraordinary discoveries. And such did it prove to be in this instance; for, lo and behold! in one of Mr. Eaton’s drawers, just underneath his clean shirts, we found that wery blade which we produced in court.” ‘And do youreally believe Mr. Eaton to be the mur- derer?’’ demanded Mrs. Brace, fixing her eyes keenly upon the constable’s countenance. “ Well, I’m not in the habit of giving a hasty or rash opinion,”’ said the officer, in a musing tone; ‘ for don’t you see, ma’am, it’s a sort of pint of honour with us never to be mistaken in any way or out in our reckoning. If we didn’t preserve the character of infallibility— that’s the word, ma’am — we should lose all the confidence that’s placed in us. So, you perceive, it don’t suit us to wentur’ an opinion until we’re sure that it’s the right one. At the same time, I don’t mind whispering to you, ma’am, for you’re such a wery nice lady, that you could wheedle me out of anything.” ‘““T am really gratified by the compliment, Mr. Grumley,”’ exclaimed Mrs. Brace, laughing. ‘‘ But you were about to give me your opinion in a confidential manner? ” she added, interrogatively. ‘‘ And my opinion is, ma’am,”’ rejoined the officer, ‘‘ that Mr. Eaton will find it precious difficult to convince a jury that he is innocent. But he won’t be hung, ma’am, — he won’t be hung,”’ added Grumley, looking as solemnly mysterious as a drunken parson trying to seem sober while preaching his sermon; ‘for this is what will get him off, ma’am, this is what will get him off,” and the constable tapped his forehead significantly. ‘‘ Ah, I understand you,” said Mrs. Brace, really experi- encing some degree of interest in this portion of the conver- sation; for she had not failed to observe, while in court, that Mr. Eaton was a very handsome and prepossessing young man. “ He is not to be held accountable for his actions? she added, inquiringly. ‘* Just so,’’ responded Grumley. ‘‘ And therefore,”’ continued Mrs. Brace, ‘‘ your opinion is that he committed the murder in a fit of monomania, or, at (C(O) mG 6)(0)()