The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

228 THE COURT OF LONDON eleven o’clock,’”’ exclaimed the magistrate, rising from his desk. “‘ Clear the court! ’’ bawled the usher, and while the spec- tators poured out of one door, Caroline Walters was con- ducted through another by Grumley and Mobbs into an adjacent room, where refreshments were set before her. ‘You have played your part uncommon well, young miss,’ said Grumley; ‘“ although you did do a little more in the palavering line than I had recommended. But, howsomever, we’ve gained our pint, and that’s the principal. It’s now six o’clock,”’ he added, after consulting the huge silver watch which he drew from his fob. ‘ Lord, how time does slip away in them courts, to be sure! But we'll stay here until about half-past eight, under pretence of letting the crowd disperse aforehand; and then we’ll slip quietly off, all three of us, to Fore Street. I say, Mobbs, old feller, what time is the boat to be in readiness? ”’ ‘“‘ At a quarter to nine punctiwal,’”’ was the response. “The boat?’ exclaimed Caroline Walters. ‘Is that intended for my escape? If so, whither do you mean to send me?” she demanded, a vague terror coming over her. ‘““ Don’t be alarmed, miss,” said Grumley, in a reassuring tone. ‘A boat certainly enters into our plans as a item of the arrangements; but it will be at your orders, to land you where you like. And now don’t ask no more questions at present, but eat some grub and make your mind easy. Come, Mobbs, you and me will just tool a pipe and dip our beaks into this here jug of his worship’s ale, until it’s time to be jogging.” The two constables accordingly seated themselves near the fire which burned in the grate, and while they smoked their pipes, Caroline Walters fell into a deep reverie upon the past, the present, and the future. (Gx @) AG 6)(0)(0) (CO)