The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

138 THE COURT OF LONDON stable’s legs and leaped up to lick his hand as if in gratitude for the kindness shown him. ‘““ Now, then,’”’ said Mr. Crawley to himself, as he sallied forth from the butcher’s shop, with the dog at his heels, ‘‘ we'll investigate this little business.” Retracing his way, the constable was just on the point of turning out of St. James’s Square into Pall Mall, when he ran against a gentleman who was coming quickly around the corner. “I beg your pardon, sir,’”’ exclaimed Mr. Crawley. ‘No offence, my man,” said the gentleman. Then, as his eyes fell upon the dog, he observed, ‘‘ You must get that beast muzzled as the warm weather comes on. I don’t like the look of him.” ‘‘ Lord bless ye, sir,”’ cried the officer, patting the mongrel as it raised itself against his leg, “ I’m not afraid of dogs. On the contrary, I love them dearly, and though I’ve been bit once or twice, you see I’m not dead of — what d’ye call it?” ‘‘ Hydrophobia, you mean,” said the gentleman. Then, taking the constable by the buttonhole, he observed in a serious tone, ‘‘ My good fellow, do not treat the matter thus lightly. If you had witnessed the dreadful spectacle which I saw last night, you would never forget it.”’ ‘“‘ Was it a case of — what d’ye call it again?’ asked Mr. Crawley. ‘“‘ Hydrophobia,” returned the gentleman. ‘‘ My time is precious, and I dare say yours is too; but it is my duty, as a Christian and a medical practitioner, to detain you for a moment while I give you a warning that may be serviceable. Last night, then, I was summoned to see a person who was supposed to have gone mad. I went, and found him labour- ing under the influence of hydrophobia. ‘Iwas a truly shocking case, and in his delirious ravings he uttered lan- guage which haunts me still, accustomed though I am to scenes of horror.” ‘Was this case so very terrible then, sir?” inquired Crawley. : “The most terrible death-bed I have ever witnessed,’’ returned the medical gentleman. ‘ The unhappy wretch died under the belief that he was suffering the last penalty of the law upon the scaffold. He accused himself and a lady b GOmicbdoo “eS