The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

CAROLINE WALTERS 219 ‘“ Oh, I s’pose there’s no doubt about it,’’ remarked the turnkey, as he opened the inner door of the lobby and ordered some underling to fetch Caroline Walters from her cell. In a few minutes the young girl made her appearance, in the custody of the underling just alluded to; and, being transferred to the charge of Grumley and Mobbs, she accom- panied the officials into the hackney-coach, which immedi- ately drove away. Caroline Walters was deadly pale, and, as this pallor showed through the brunette hue of her complexion, it gave a ghastly aspect to her countenance. Her fine dark eyes shone with a restless and sinister light which vibrated as a star; and her pearly teeth were clenched behind the closely compressed lips.. There was an awful composure in her manner, which, when considered in respect to her looks, seemed compounded of dark menace against some one and of a fixed and desperate resolution with reference to herself. The moment the vehicle rolled away from the gate of Horsemonger Lane Prison, Mr. Grumley drew up the window on his side, while Mobbs did the same on the other; and then the head constable addressed himself in a hasty and laconic manner to Caroline. | ‘“* Miss Walters,’”’ he said, ‘‘ we have not many minutes to converse together, and we must make the most of so short a time.”’ ‘‘ What can you have to say to me? ”’ she demanded, raising her eyes and glancing suspiciously from the ill-looking countenance of Grumley to the repulsive features of Mobbs, for the two constables were seated opposite to her in the vehicle. | ‘“‘ Listen, and don’t interrupt me more than you can help, miss,’’ resumed the head officer. ‘‘ Your case is a very bad one, and you’re sure to be committed for trial. If com- mitted for trial, you’re sure to be found guilty and hung.” ‘TI already perceive the weight of that circumstantial evidence which will be arrayed against me,’’ answered Caroline, in a low and somewhat thick tone, “ and I am prepared for the worst. But I shall at least have the satis- faction of giving a full and complete exposure of the iniquities of the immense brothel over which the arch-procuress Mrs. Brace presides, and which has for so many years helped to sustain the midwifery establishment in Fore Street.’’ a (C(O) ANC 6)(0)©)