The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

THE BEGGAR’S STAFF AGAIN 327 of rum punch which she had just mixed for his special be- hoof. ‘“T’ve already told you it isn’t official, nor more it is,”’ responded the man, taking off his hat and comforter, and unbottoning his drab coat; ‘‘ but it’s what may be called semiofficial,’’ he added, with a chuckle, as if he had given utterance to a very witty thing. “I don’t understand you, Mr. Mobbs,’”’ observed Carrotty Poll, again experiencing an uneasy sensation on account of the ambiguity of the fellow’s remark. ‘Well, what I mean is soon explained, miss,’’ rejoined Mobbs; “‘ and the long and the short of the matter is that I’m no more a constable at this moment than you are, but that I’ve come here to see if I can obtain any clue to the unravelling of a partickler business, so that I may get restored to my situation.” “Then you’re suspended, Mr. Mobbs?”’ said Poll, inquir- ingly. ‘“‘ Just so,’”’ was the answer; “ and consekvently my visit is only half-official, as the saying is.”’ “Well, but what is the business about? ’”’ demanded the red-haired young woman, somewhat snappishly, for her courage came back, and with it a portion of her natural ill- temper, when she learned that Mobbs was no longer danger- ous nor terrible. “The fact is,’’ said the individual, “ you’ve no doubt ‘heard how a certain Caroline Walters gave me and Grumley the slip a week ago — ”’ ‘Yes, she jumped out of the window and drowned her- self,’ interrupted Carrotty Poll. ‘‘ At least, so we heard it reported in Horslydown.”’ “ Well, the rumour was tolerably correct,’’ continued Mobbs; ‘‘ but ever since the very night of that occurrence Grumley has been missing, in a most unaccountable manner, and so the magistrates naturally suspect that he’s bolted on account of that affair.” “P’raps they don’t believe the story of the young ) woman’s leap from the window in order to commit sui- cide? ” observed Carrotty Poll. “You’ve just hit it, miss,”’ exclaimed Mobbs. “ The disappearance of Grumley has thrown suspicion on the whole affair, and the authorities will have it that me and (Glo) MG 6)(0)©) So