The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

242 THE COURT OF LONDON indeed the world might have said that we were either bribed or that we showed a most unpardonable negligence. But when once we got the girl in safety into the house, who could have supposed that she would suddenly open a casement and fling herself into the Thames below? Don’t you see the difference, ma’am? ”’ and as Mr. Grumley asked this question he winked his eye knowingly. ‘‘T now comprehend the full meaning and force of your precaution,’”’ observed the milliner. ‘‘ And during the ex- amination before the magistrate, was anything said at all calculated to compromise — ”’ “You or your establishment, ma’am? ”’ exclaimed Grum- ley, who, perceiving that the lady hesitated, finished the sentence for her. ‘‘ Not a word, not a syllable, I can assure you. In fact, I put a stop to all that, my dear madam, when I was taking the young gal along to the magistrate’s house.” ‘‘ Ah! then she did threaten? ”’ exclaimed Mrs. Brace, in- quiringly; for she was anxious to learn how far the revela- tions of Caroline Walters might have extended. ‘“ Well, she did threaten a many things, ma’am,” said Mr. Grumley, surveying the milliner with looks so full of unmis- takable grossness that she began to be not only disgusted but likewise alarmed. ‘ It ain’t, however, of no use wexing yourself on that account, my dear creatur’,’”’ added the con- stable. ‘Oh, no, not at all,’’ ejaculated Mrs. Brace. ‘‘ But I will now hand you over the remaining moiety of the promised reward,” she observed, starting from her seat. And as she crossed the room to open the writing-desk, which stood on a side-table, Mr. Grumley followed her with his eyes; and the rustling of her silk dress, the glimpse which he caught of her robust but well-turned ankles and her very genteelly shaped feet, the gleaming of her white neck and arms in the lamplight, and the coquettish French cap so admirably becoming the milliner’s style of beauty, — all these produced an indescribable effect upon Mr. Grumley’s sensations, and his blood, inflamed alike by lust and potent. liquor, appeared to boil in his veins. The milliner took from her writing-desk a number of bank- notes, and when she returned to her seat she was more pro- foundly struck and more seriously alarmed than at first by the singular expression of countenance with which Mr. Grum- COnnicooolks (CO)